By Kim McDermott, Wellness Manager

In keeping with our annual tradition, the Wellness staff has picked some of our favorite products from the Wellness aisles to highlight for 2024.

Here are 10, in no particular order, selected for 2024.

1) Malama Mushroom Powders

Malama Mushrooms offers high quality mushroom powders produced in Kona, Hawaii. The powders – derived from the fruiting body of the mushrooms – are organic with no additives, fillers, or starches. Functional mushrooms are high in antioxidants and beta-glucans that support immune function, cognitive function, and increased stamina. They can also help maintain healthy gut function. The Superfood Mushroom Mix of 8 functional mushrooms includes lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, maitake, and more. Lion’s mane powder is especially useful for supporting cognitive function, mental clarity, focus, and the nervous system. The mild flavor of mushroom powders can boost your tea, coffee, smoothies, breakfast bowls, or just about any baked good recipe.

2) Inesscents Coconut Milk and Rose CBD Bath Soak

Inesscents is known for creating outstanding body care using the highest quality ingredients. Their CBD bath soak is a heavenly combination of full spectrum CBD and organic essential oils and extracts of rose, bergamot, calendula, and chamomile. We Love Love Love this bath soak for its relaxing and skin softening properties and soothing scents!! Relax and unwind with this calming bath salt.

3) Plus CBD Calm Gummies

A winning trio of CBD, L-Theanine, and 5-HTP are combined in a convenient and tasty gummy. L-theanine can bring a zen- like calmness when experiencing the daily stresses of life, while 5-HTP is thought to promote a positive mood and mental well being. Delicious, vegan and gluten free, these gummies can be taken during the day or before bed to help with relaxation and calm.

4) HiBar Solid Face Wash bar

If you’ve been looking for a plastic free option for face wash that’s also natural, vegan, and pH friendly – we have the perfect face bar for you! Now you can have a soap-free, effective face wash while ditching the plastic! HiBar has formulated

solid facial bars with 12 amino acids and squalene that perform like a liquid face wash, but with no added fragrances, parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. These concentrated bars last as long as a full bottle of liquid facial cleanser. Choose from two fragrance free options: Hydrate for sensitive dry skin, or Cleanse for more lather and a deeper cleanse.

5) Mickelberry Gardens Honey Propolis Throat Spray

We’ve recently added Mickelberry Garden’s products to the Wellness aisle. The Portland, OR company was started by a husband and wife team who added a few hives to their backyard to try their hand at beekeeping, and initially sold their honey and propolis based items at a Portland Farmer’s market. Fast forward to today, and their popular blends are now sold nationwide. Honey Propolis Throat spray features raw honey, raw apple cider vinegar, medicinal herbs, and propolis. Great anytime you need to soothe and rejuvenate your throat.

6) Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum

This serum is a must have for aging, sun damaged, acne prone, or reactive skin. When Vitamin C is used in skin care, it needs to be in a high enough concentration in order to be effective. Mad Hippie uses a highly stable form of Vitamin C in a concentrated, efficacious dose. Paired with Vitamin E, ferulic acid, and hyaluronic acid, this serum delivers a super dose of antioxidants for brighter, tighter skin!. Oh, and the subtle scent is uplifting too!

7) Ultima Electrolyte Mix

Many of us can benefit from a daily boost of additional electrolytes, especially when working out or working outdoors in hot weather. Getting enough potassium daily from your diet can be challenging some days, especially if you don’t always have time to eat right. Potassium is crucial for heart, nerve, muscle health, and balancing fluids in the body. Ultima electrolytes include six electrolytes, plant based natural flavors and colors, and has zero sugar. The stevia sweetened powder is a great alternative to many sugar laden electrolyte drinks (One Gatorade flavor I checked contained 21 grams of sugar and artificial Red 40 coloring). We carry individual packets in grape, lemonade, raspberry and cherry pomegranate flavors. Many Wheatsfield staff use this product daily to stay hydrated, and they report the flavors helps them to consume more water.

8) Gaia Cherry Orange Sleep Gummy

Gaia has formulated an all organic unique sleep blend that features ashwagandha as a main ingredient, along with passionflower and reishi mushroom, to support a restful night’s sleep. Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that supports healthy stress levels and adrenal health, helping to relax body and mind.

9) Xlear Nasal Spray

A top seller in the department! Xlear is a patented all natural sinus spray featuring xylitol. Normal saline sprays can dry out the sinuses, causing more irritation and potentially increasing susceptibility to external contaminants. With the addition of Xylitol, the formula cleanses but also moisturizes the sinus passages, thereby relieving congestion and reducing tissue inflammation. Xylitol acts almost like a soap for the nose, and helps keep your sinuses healthy and open all year long. Xlear is drug free, so there’s no worry about product addiction or a rebound effect.

10. The Seaweed Bath Co. Hydrating Body Cream

One of our most hydrating body creams that will get your hand through another Iowa winter. Here’s a body and hand cream that delivers tons of skin softening hydration! If you want to know how well a cream works, take a look at the back of the tube, yeah you know, where the actual ingredients are listed. This cream uses sustainably harvested Atlantic seaweed for nourishment and detoxification, along with argan oil and kukui oil for moisturizing. Shea butter and cocoa seed butter add another layer of protection. Add in hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration, and you’ve got an all-star cast of ingredients for a superb hand cream with a warm citrus vanilla scent.