The Forecast

We asked the supplement soothsayers at independent research body Examine to gaze into their Himalayan salt-crystal ball to see what you’ll be popping in months to come

01/ Happy Pills

‘People now consider food and supplements to be a contributor to good mental health,’ says researcher Nick Milazzo. Expect the next wave of nootropics to focus on this, with ingredients like DHA and EPA fatty acids, vitamin D3 and amino acids such as tryptophan, a building block of serotonin.

02/ Targeted Probiotics

‘The issue is that effects are strain-specific, and there are a ton of strains,’ says Milazzo. Once scientists can reliably identify which strains confer which benefits, they can develop targeted supps. ‘There’s a huge space for oral and skin probiotic products like mouthwash and soap.’

03/ Plant Power

‘Plant-derived compounds such as polyphenols and nitrates are popular research topics,’ says Milazzo, ‘and show promise for a lot of modern ailments such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.’ He has already noted ‘a big uptick in green powders and other vegetable-based supps that can be added to smoothies.’