New Chapter Q&A

Frequenty Asked Questions

What makes your whole food Probiotic Nutrients™ better than other vitamin products?
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.

Has there been a recent change to All-Flora?

The capsules used to be beige in color and now they are red.
Yes. We recently began using an organic source of beet fiber in the product which is more red in color due to higher plant pigment levels in the organic materials. The switch represents another example of New Chapter's commitment to organics.

Are New Chapter's products gluten-free?
Yes. All New Chapter products are naturally gluten-free.

How does CalMag Bone Health™ compare to Bone Strength Take Care™?
New Chapter's CalMag Bone Health™ formula has given thousands of people the bone health benefits they were looking for 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 a plethora 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 Health™ delivers 75 mg of calcium and 75 mg of magnesium. CalMag Bone Health™ is an excellent product for maintaining bone health.

New Chapter's new Bone Strength Take Care™ product features AlgaeCal™, the first bioavailable form of plant sourced calcium. Calcium represents 30% of the make-up of the AlgaeCal™, while magnesium represents 10%. Thus, there is 685 mg of calcium and 200 mg of magnesium provided in each serving (3 tablets) of Bone Strength Take Care™. Additionally, AlgaeCal™ contains dozens of other trace minerals important for bone health, including strontium, vandadium and silica, and impressive preliminary results from an ongoing human clinical trial suggest that supplementation with AlgaeCal™ stimulates bone growth. 800 IU of probiotic vitamin D3 as well as 2 forms of vitamin K: probiotic K1 and MK-7 from the fermented soy food, natto, complete Bone Strength Take Care™. This one of a kind bone strengthening formula is the ideal choice for individuals seeking more aggressive bone support.

Is Immunity Take Care™ best used on a daily basis or acutely?
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 enhance defenses. If using the product in this way, we suggest taking two lozenges daily.
Why are New Chapter's potencies lower than conventional pharmaceutical supplements?
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.

I have a history of yeast infections (or Candida overgrowth). Are your LifeShield™ Mushrooms and Probiotic Nutrients™ okay to take?
It is a common misconception that individuals with Candida overgrowth need to avoid all fungi-containing foods and supplements. Just as there are beneficial bacteria (i.e. probiotics), there are beneficial fungi known as "fungi perfecti." These health-promoting fungi do not cause or contribute to overgrowth of "fungi imperfecti." such as Candida albicans. In fact, many beneficial fungi including Sacharomyces cerevisiae, which we use to create our Probiotic Nutrients, actually produce compounds that inhibit the growth of Candida. And, the mushrooms featured in our line of LifeShield™ Mushrooms supply a rich source of immune-enhancing polysaccharides which support the body's natural ability to control the growth of Candida and other fungi imperfecti.* Consequently, it would be highly beneficial for anyone concerned about fungal overgrowth to include New Chapter’s Organic Probiotic Nutrients™ in their daily regimen to optimize their defenses against these conditions.
I don't do well with soy foods. Since New Chapter's Probiotic Nutrients™ are cultured in a soy media, will they agree with me?
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.

Can I take New Chapter products if I am also taking prescription medications?
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.

Do I need to refrigerate New Chapter's products containing live probiotics: Perfect Prenatal™, Berry Green™, Probiotics with a Purpose™, All-Flora® and Smooth Food 2™?
No, 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. Given that the viability of probiotics is most influenced by light and moisture, for best results you may wish to store opened products in the refrigerator or another dark, dry place.

Are any of your products made in China?
No.

Do any of your ingredients originate from China?
Yes. A few herbs like green tea, hu zhang and Chinese skullcap which we feature in our products are from China where they are native and grow well. Like all of our raw materials, these herbs are tested for both purity and potency to ensure they meet New Chapter's exacting standards for quality.

How does New Chapter ensure the quality, purity and potency of their products?
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.

What is Zyflamend®?
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, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Cleveland Clinic. It enjoys enthusiastic world-wide support from physicians and patients alike.

Does Zyflamend support connective tissue health or just modulate inflammation?
Both! Zyflamend® works to promote a healthy inflammation response, which is required for maintaining the health of joint cartilage.

Is the soy in your Probiotic Nutrient™ formulas safe for someone at high risk for breast cancer?
Yes. New Chapter's Probiotic Nutrients™ delivers 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.*

Is the soy in your Probiotic Nutrient™ formulas safe for someone at with a sluggish or hypofunctioning thyroid?
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 inviduals 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.

Why do you use animal-based softgels instead of vegetarian capsules in many of your supercritical herbals?
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.

Why do you recommend taking New Chapter's Supercritical Herbal Therapies in the middle of a meal?
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.

Vitamins upset my stomach; will I have this difficulty with New Chapter's vitamins and minerals?
New Chapter’s Probiotic Nutrients 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.

Can I take New Chapter products if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Perfect Prenatal™, Ginger Honey Tonic, Berry Green®, All-Flora® and BLOCKADE™ 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 other products only under the direction of their health care provider or qualified expert in herbal and nutritional medicine.

Are all of your products organic?
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 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.

Is there a way to get relief from hormonal imbalances without taking HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or phytoestrogen supplements?
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.

Are New Chapter's products vegan?
All of the following New Chapter products are considered vegan: all of the MycoMedicinals®, and Daily Ginger®, Baikal Skullcap, Broccolive® Plus, Berry Green™, Supercritical Diet & Energy™, Green & White Tea, Aloe Vera 200™, All-Flora®, Chlorella Regularis, Immortal Mushrooms™, Rhodiolaforce 100 & 300™, Holy Basil, Smooth Food 2™, CoffeeBerry™, Anti-Aging Formula, and Sensitive Colon Support.

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™.

Is New Chapter certified by a third-party?
New Chapter is currently under limited certification by International Certification Services (ICS), a third-party certifying body. Our organic operations in Costa Rica are certified by Eco-Logica. New chapter and its co-processors are certified to the standards of the USDA’a 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). As the GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices) are not final for the Dietary Supplement Industry, we are holding on third party Certification for GMP compliance. We are currently operating under the FDA’s guidelines as mandated in 21 CFR for the food industry Parts 100 – 169. The FDA audited New Chapter in 2003.

What is the difference between Supercritical Holy Basil™ and Holy Basil Vcaps?
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. Supercritical Holy Basil 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. Supercritical Holy Basil is Potency Assured™ for ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid, eugenol and caryophyllenes. It is delivered in a gelcap.

What is the difference between St. John's SC27™ and Serofin™?
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 St. John’s SC27 for thousands of individuals who have used this product with great success to safely promote balanced brain chemistry.

Should I be concerned about products containing maltodextrin if I have a food allergy or sensitivity to corn?

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.

Does New Chapter use genetically modified ingredients or petrochemicals?
It is from Non GMO Microbial derived carbohydrate.

How nutritious are New Chapter Products?
Paul has fiercely held to his insight that molecules isolated from plants and foods act differently and do not equal the power of the whole. Paul realizes that the healing intelligence is found in the wholeness of nature, not in the genius of a pharmaceutical chemist. Inspired by his study of ancient healing wisdom, Paul discovered that fermentation through probiotics bio-transforms food and botanicals into uniquely healing modalities. These revolutionary ideas led to a new paradigm in vitamin and mineral supplementation and the introduction of a unique Dual State Wholefood Probiotic Culturing Technology. Combining this technology, research and an inherent healing gift, Paul has crafted formulations that are unparalleled in their healing power and performance. Paul is author of Ginger: Common Spice and Wonder Drug, and is co-author with Tom Newmark of Beyond Aspirin, and The Life Bridge.

Information above came from New Chapter.