We all love our char kway teows and roti pratas even though we all know that these popular dishes often lack essential nutrients which our body needs. Not only that, they are also often high in calories and unsaturated fat.
One of Singaporeans' favourite dishes - char kway teow
This may also explain why Singaporeans love their supplements. According to a report by Statista, revenue from vitamins and minerals sales in Singapore amounted to US$194.80m in 2023, and in a separate survey by Rakuten Insights, 53% of respondents stated that supplements are a part of their diet.
Supplements are beneficial when they fill nutrient gaps in one's diet, providing essential vitamins and minerals crucial for overall health.
One online retailer where Singaporeans love to shop from is iHerb. iHerb was founded in the United States in 1996 and has grown to be a much-loved one-stop-shop for individuals seeking to enhance their well-being through a variety of natural and alternative health options.
Here are the top 10 bestselling supplements among Singaporeans.
1. California Gold Nutrition, Gold C, USP Grade Vitamin C, 1,000 mg, 60 Veggie Capsules
Not all Vtamin C supplements are made the same. The California Gold Nutrition is a USP-Grade Vitamin C, meaning that it meets the quality standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), a nonprofit organisation that establishes quality and purity standards for pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and other healthcare products in the United States.
It has also undergone rigorous testing and strict quality controls to ensure its purity, potency, and quality.
It is also priced affordably at only $4.09 for 60 capsules (1000mg), or less than 7 cents per capsule.
2. California Gold Nutrition, LactoBif Probiotics, 30 Billion CFU, 60 Veggie Capsules
A daily probiotic supplement with 1-10 billion CFUs (colony-forming unit) is often sufficient for maintaining overall gut health. Your doctor might recommend doses ranging from 10 billion to 100 billion CFUs or more for specific health concerns such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The LactoBif Probiotics contain 30 billion CFU and are made from a non-dairy medium. They are good for relieving common digestive symptoms like upset stomach, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating.
Priced at $29.96 for 60 capsules.
3. Life Extension, BioActive Complete B-Complex, 60 Vegetarian Capsules
Vitamin B, often referred to as the B-complex vitamins, is a group of eight distinct vitamins.
Among its many benefits, Vitamin B helps the body metabolise carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, aids in cell growth and repair, promotes healthy skin, hair, and red blood cell formation, and many more.
Priced at $11.40 for 60 capsules.
4. California Gold Nutrition, Omega-3 Premium Fish Oil, 180 EPA / 120 DHA, 100 Fish Gelatin Softgels
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for our health as they support heart health by reducing the risk of heart disease, aid in cognitive performance, promote eye health, and reduce inflammation in the body.
Remember when you were young, and your parents kept including fish in your diet in the hopes of making you score more marks for your exams? Yeah, it's all because of omega-3 fatty acids, and fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, are rich in them.
Priced at $17.03 for 100 fish gelatin softgels.
5. 21st Century, Calcium Magnesium Zinc + D3, 90 Tablets
Are you guilty of having a diet low in whole grains, nuts, leafy greens, red meat, and dairy products? This means that your body may have a deficiency in these important minerals, which are essential for healthy bones, muscles, and a robust immune system.
Additionally, if you find yourself staying indoors most of the time, your body may not be absorbing as much calcium as it needs from your regular diet.
Sunlight promotes Vitamin D synthesis in your skin, which is an essential component in the absorption of calcium in your intestines.
Priced at $6.97 for 90 tablets.
6. Natrol, Melatonin, Time Release, Extra Strength, 5 mg, 100 Tablets
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by our body to regulate sleep and align our internal body clock with the natural day-night cycle.
But did you know, melatonin production can be heavily influenced by external factors, particularly exposure to light. All those constant scrolling of TikTok on your phone can suppress melatonin production and disrupt your sleep-wake cycle.
The Natrol Melatonin tablets release melatonin in two phases - first one to help you fall asleep soon and another to help you sleep throughout the night. It also contains Vitamin B-6 to support the body's natural production of melatonin.
Priced at $13.44 for 100 tablets (5mg).
7. Doctor's Best, High Absorption Magnesium, 100 mg, 240 Tablets
If you exercise often, your body will need a healthy level of magnesium for good muscle function, including muscle contraction and relaxation.
Along with calcium and vitamin D, magnesium is also vital for bone health, as it contributes to bone mineralisation and density.
Sports people, get your magnesium tablets from iHerb at $28.39 for 240 tablets (100mg).
8. California Gold Nutrition, Vitamin D3, 125 mcg (5,000 IU), 90 Fish Gelatin Softgels
Vitamin D3 is important for the body because it plays a significant role in maintaining proper calcium and phosphate levels, which are essential for bone health and overall well-being.
Our skin naturally produces Vitamin D3 when exposed to sunlight, particularly UVB rays.
However, if you find yourself staying indoors most of the time, the California Gold Nutrition Vitamin D3 tablets can help maintain optimal levels of this important nutrient in your body.
Priced at $6.36 for 90 fish gelatin softgels (125mcg).
9. NOW Foods, Inositol Capsules, 500 mg, 100 Veg Capsules
Now what is inositol, you may ask. Although not officially recognised as a vitamin, inositol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that is often considered a member of the B-vitamin family.
Inositol is important for nerve cell function and has even been explored as a treatment for conditions like diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage associated with diabetes.
Inositol is found in various foods like fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains.
Priced at $10.34 for 100 tablets (500mg).
10. NOW Foods, Ultra Omega-3, 500 EPA / 250 DHA, 180 Enteric Coated Softgels
Like the California Gold Nutrition Omega-3 Premium Fish Oil tablets above, these enteric-coated softgels provide a rich source of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.
If you are wondering what are enteric-coated softgels, they are basically softgel capsules with a special coating designed to withstand the harshness of stomach acid, allowing it to pass through the stomach intact and disintegrate in the more neutral pH environment of the small intestines.
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As do all supplements, it is recommended that they are taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional as the appropriate dosage and duration of supplementation can vary based on individual needs and should be determined by a healthcare provider.
Cover image by Gina Sell on Unsplash.