Kickstart 2025 with Wellness!

As part of our cherished annual tradition, the Wellness team has carefully curated a selection of their favorite products from the Wellness aisles to inspire and uplift your year ahead.

🌿 Here are 10 standout picks—handpicked just for you, and in no particular order! 🌟

By Kim McDermott, Wellness Manager

1) Trace Minerals Magnesium Glycinate Powder

Interest in magnesium supplements has really exploded in the last several years, as more people discover the benefits of this mineral. After all, who couldn’t use a little more relaxation and calm? Magnesium is essential in the functioning of the nervous system, helps promote muscle relaxation and recovery, and supports restful sleep. The chelated glycinate form of magnesium is beneficial as it has a higher absorption rate, and is gentle on the GI tract, meaning it’s less likely to have a laxative effect. Glycine from the glycinate also has a calming effect on the brain. Trace’s powder form is a simple and tasty way to get your daily magnesium. Simply mix into your favorite drink or water. Because it promotes relaxation, it’s ideal to take a portion of your dose 30-60 minutes before bed.

2) Sprout Living Epic Protein Powders

Sprout Living has formulated a line of super clean organic protein powders using only quality ingredients with no gums, natural flavorings or additives. Their unique formulas feature pea, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, and sacha inchi proteins, plus superfoods and adaptogens like maca, baobob, and chlorella. We like that their powders have 4-5 grams of fiber, are vegan, gluten free, and grain free. Look for Vanilla Lucuma, Chocolate Maca, Complete Coffee and Pro Collagen in 1 lb bags and single packets.

3) Badger Seabuckthorn Face Oil 

Badger is a beloved line in the co-op world, loved as much for their ethos as their products. The company is second generation family owned, woman owned, and a certified B Corp. Badger products never disappoint us; their formulas feature high quality ingredients produced sustainably and ethically. The seabuckthorn facial oil uses nourishing and hydrating jojoba and baobab oils, and seabuckthorn extract, known for its antioxidant properties. Lavender, geranium and orange essential oils combine to produce a captivating fragrance you will enjoy each morning or evening as part of your face care ritual. 

4) Brixy Body Wash Bars 

Brixy is an innovative company with a mission to help solve the plastic pollution problem. For years, many of us have dutifully placed our plastic in the recycling bin, hoping we were lessening the plastic waste accumulation. Fast forward fifty years, and the sad reality is that only about 9% of plastic produced annually ever gets recycled. With that in mind, we can only start to solve the problem by using less plastic. Period! Enter Brixy’s body wash bars. Brixy soap bars contain only 9% water, compared to 70-90% in liquid shampoo and body wash. This means that one bar can replace multiple bottles, saving water and money. These moisturizing soap-free bars with shea butter and castor oil are gentle on the skin. Brixy uses science backed ingredients like ceramide and niacinamide, shown to support the skin barrier and overall skin health. Free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic ‘fragrance’, or other nasties you don’t want in your body wash – just a simple clean bar. 

5) Pacha Dirty Hippie Soap and Froth Bomb 

Pacha Soaps, made in the neighboring state of Nebraska, are another favorite at the co-op. Pacha is famous for their wonderfully crafted bar soaps and froth bombs. Dirty Hippie soap is a prized favorite and features – what else – patchouli oil as the primary scent. The musky scent of patchouli has a grounding, balancing effect on mood. Here’s a great destressing routine: run a hot bath, add the wonderfully scented froth bomb, light a candle, and immerse yourself into your blissful bath. Repeat as necessary! 

6) Klean Kanteen Insulated Wine Tumbler 

The new 10 oz. wine tumbler is a perfect blend of sophistication and sustainability made from 90% certified recycled stainless steel. Perfect for those who prefer a stable wine glass (no spills here!), the tumbler is insulated to keep your drink cold. Additionally, it features a wide opening and thin rim to preserve aromas and make it easy to drink from. For 20 years Klean Kanteen has revolutionized reusable water bottles, with the mission of ending single-use plastic consumption. The company has donated more than $4.3 million dollars to environmental non-profits through 1% for the Planet.  

7) Wheatsfield Beet with Maca Supplement 

The lowly beetroot is trending due to its multiple health promoting properties. Our Beet with Maca supplement highlights fermented beets, touted for their phytochemicals and high antioxidant levels. Rich in phytochemicals, beets contain carotenoids, flavonoids, and betalains, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Beets are a source of dietary nitrate, which helps raise nitric oxide levels in the body. This increase, in turn, has been shown to help boost athletic performance due to the vasodilation properties of nitric oxide. Maca, with its adaptogenic properties, is added to the formula and helps increase energy and physical stamina. Together, these ingredients work synergistically and are a great addition to your health or pre-workout routine. 

8) Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap Refill Cartons 

Most of us are already familiar with the iconic Dr. Bronner’s soap, a plant-based ultra concentrated organic castile soap. The 18-in-1 soap can be used for body, cleaning, mopping, dishes, and a whole host of other uses. Dr. Bronner’s is a leader in the industry for its social and environmental business ethics, with principles like ‘Share the profits with the workers and the earth from which you made it’. To revisit the plastics issue, 400 million tons of plastic is produced annually, -using 4-8% of global oil production- and very little gets recycled or reused. Again, the beauty and body care industry have a plastic problem. Dr. Bronner’s already uses PCR plastic for their plastic containers, which is a vast improvement over using virgin plastic. However, they now offer paper 32 oz refill cartons. Save your original plastic container and then purchase a refill carton to refill it. Small acts like these can add up to big changes over time, if enough people make the switch! 

9) New Enzymedica ‘Subculture’ Probiotics 

Enzymedica, long known for their high caliber enzymes, now has an exciting new line of high potency, shelf stable probiotics. My gut feels happier already! Three unique products target individual needs, addressing Women’s vaginal health, Mood, and Bloat. The Bloat and Women’s probiotics contain both traditional bacterial strains and spore-based strains. Spore-based strains have the advantage of being heat and gastric acid resistant and thus have a high survivability rate. L-Theanine, known as the calming amino acid, is added to the Mood probiotic, in addition to a post-biotic that helps with mental stress. 

10. Four Elements Cooling Calendula Salve 

Four Elements Organic Herbals grow herbs on their 130-acre organic farm in the Baraboo Bluffs of Wisconsin. Their products are handmade by dedicated local women and sold throughout the country. Calendula has long been used by herbalists for its skin cooling and healing properties. Blended with aloe, plantain and lavender, this winning combination salve is an excellent choice anytime you need to soothe irritated, dry or chapped skin. 

By Kim McDermott, Wheatsfield Wellness Manager

Kim McDermott is Wheatsfield Co-op’s Wellness Manager, holds a B.S. degree in Nutritional Science, and has been interested in natural foods and vegetarian cooking for over 30 years. She enjoys experimenting in the kitchen to create down-to-earth, healthy recipes. Kim previously co-managed a small vegetarian restaurant, and also taught vegetarian cooking classes for the first CSA in central Iowa, the Magic Beanstalk.