You’ve mastered it all – from the office, to Bikram Yoga, to growing the best tomatoes your community garden has ever seen. You’ve amassed a collection of World’s Greatest mugs, Best Boss baseball caps, and 1^st place gardening trophies. At SmartyPants, we never want to be left behind, so we sat down with leading experts in nutritional and preventative health for a masterclass in all things 50+. SmartyPants Masters Complete is more than a multivitamin– it’s a premium gummy vitamin that delivers 14 essential nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin for brain health and clinically-proven eye health*, CoQ10, and omega 3 EPA and DHA fatty acids, all in one. Ingredients matter, so we’ve upgraded our Masters Complete gummies by adding clinically-proven doses of FloraGLO Lutein and OPTISHARP Zeaxanthin sourced from marigolds to help enhance visual performance and help reduce the effects of aging on the eye.* We are the only gummy vitamin to offer lutein and zeaxanthin at the clinical doses. Lutein and zeaxanthin has been clinically-proven to increase macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and help protect the eye from harmful blue light.* Lutein also helps support cognitive function over time as you age.* FloraGLO Lutein is the most clinically researched lutein brand worldwide and was the chosen lutein brand used by the National Eye Institute (NEI) in the landmark AREDS2 study. Rather than include 100% of 100 different nutrients, we focused on the nutrients that are hardest for some men and women over the age of 50 to get consistently through diet alone. Like all SmartyPants products, we use the premium form of ingredients that can be readily absorbed by the body whenever possible: folate as methylfolate, vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin, vitamin D as D3, vitamin K2 as MK7.   Our delicious taste is no joke either; our gummies taste so good, you’ll actually look forward to taking your vitamins day after day. Like all our products, SmartyPants Masters Complete is non-GMO, contains no synthetic colors or artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives, and is gluten and allergen-free. Our Meg-3â fish oil comes from sustainable stocks of wild-caught small fish. Each batch is third-party lab tested for purity and potency, so you can be sure what you read on our label is what you get in our product. By combining a full daily multivitamin with omega 3 fish oil, SmartyPants can make staying in tip-top shape just a little bit easier by saving you time, money, and peace of mind. * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

When it comes to lutein and zeaxanthin, two big questions may come to mind: What are they and what do they do? Long story short: lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoids that help support eye health, enhance visual performance, and help protect the eye from overexposure to damaging blue light, often associated with LED screens.* Now that we have your attention, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of how lutein and zeaxanthin promote healthy vision. Located near the center of the retina is an area known as the macula.  The pigment in the macula is primarily composed of 3 carotenoids – lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin isomers. Our bodies cannot synthetize lutein or zeaxanthin, so these carotenoids must be obtained from food or supplements. Meso-zeaxanthin is created from metabolizing lutein and is not obtainable from dietary sources. In other words, lutein does double duty, acting as a nutrient itself and acting as the raw material for the synthesis of meso-zeaxanthin. So what about the macular pigment – how is connected to eye health and visual performance? The thickness and density of the macular pigment is called the macular pigment optical density (MPOD). The thicker and denser the macular pigment, the better your visual acuity, i.e. your ability to see clearly and in fine detail.* This includes glare recovery, sensitivity to bright lights, contrast sensitivity, and visual processing speed. The macular pigment acts as internal sunglasses for the eyes, absorbing and filtering blue light, the most damaging spectrum of visible light, that is emitted by LED screens on computers, cell phones, tablets, televisions, and etc.* At 10 mg and 2 mg daily, lutein and zeaxanthin are clinically-proven to increase MPOD.* Lutein is also able to cross the blood brain barrier and is the predominant carotenoid found in the brain. Strong emerging science suggests that lutein may serve as a safe and natural support for cognitive function, especially as you age. Lutein is also an important nutrient for brain development and may provide antioxidant protection for the brain.* With 60% of Americans spending more than 5 hours a day on digital devices, it has become increasingly important to get lutein and zeaxanthin in your daily diet. That’s why we include FloraGLO Lutein and OPTISHARP Natural Zeaxanthin in our Masters Complete and Teen Complete products – and we hope to add it to many more of our formulas in the future. SmartyPants Masters Complete is the only gummy vitamin with clinically-proven doses of lutein and zeaxanthin. Our Teen Complete product contain 6 mg and 1 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin respectively for a safe and efficacious dose for those under 18 years of age. At SmartyPants, we know ingredients matter – that’s why we use the best of the best whenever possible. We chose to use FloraGLO Lutein because it is the most clinically researched lutein brand worldwide and was the chosen lutein brand used by the National Eye Institute (NEI) in the landmark AREDS2 study. We know we have to earn your trust, so that’s why we work hard to create the best possible product we can. If you have any questions regarding lutein or zeaxanthin, please don’t hesitate to ask! * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

It’s no secret our bodies change as we get older – metabolism can slow, appetite may change, and the digestive system may produce less of the necessary fluids to break down foods. For women, menopause marks a particularly significant physiological change as reproductive hormones naturally decline. As with all age groups, the nutrients most important for men and women over 50 largely depend on their unique nutritional profile, metabolism, and diet. Consult your healthcare practitioner to determine the right supplementation plan for you. That being said, there are a few key nutrients that can help keep you at the top of the hill, not over it.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 helps the body turn food into energy and maintains the nervous system. B12 is a naturally large molecule and it requires adequate stomach acid to be absorbed. Stomach acid production naturally declines with age.*

Vitamin D3

Contrary to what its name may suggest, vitamin D3 is actually a hormone the body can synthesize from sunlight. As we age, our skin becomes less efficient at producing vitamin D3. This, combined with the fact that more and more people are wearing protective sunscreen and spending less time in the sun, makes getting vitamin D3 from dietary sources even more important. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium absorption and helps promote strong, healthy bones and teeth.*

Vitamin B6

According to the CDC’s 2012 Second Nutritional Report, vitamin B6 is the #1 most common nutritional deficiency in the USA across all age groups, with 10.5% of the population deficient.  Vitamin B6 is involved in over 200 biochemical reactions in the body, so its nutritional importance cannot be understated.

Fiber

Fiber can be broken into two broad categories: insoluble and soluble fiber, and most foods contain both. Insoluble fiber – think celery, seeds, those stringy things that always get in the way of maximum banana enjoyment –  keeps the digestive tract running smoothly and regularly. Soluble fiber – think beans, peas, oats – acts as a prebiotic to feed to beneficial bacteria in your gut and binds to cholesterol and sugar, slowing their absorption into the blood stream and promotes healthy blood sugar levels and appetite.* The Institute of Medicine recommends 30 grams and 21 grams of fiber per day for men and women age 51 or older, respectively. The process of refining grains, however, removes much of the nutrient and fiber content from the food. While the nutrients can be added back through enrichment, fiber cannot. The popularity of refined grains and processed foods can make getting enough fiber every day more difficult for some.

CoQ10

You know that saying – the heart wants what the heart wants? Well, a lot of the time, the heart wants that filet mignon steak with fries for lunch. So, yeah, what the heart wants may not always be so great for it. One nutrient that can help you take care of your heart is CoQ10. Although our bodies can synthesize CoQ10 on their own, production naturally declines as you age. While there is no recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for CoQ10 right now, studies suggest that 30 – 100 mg of CoQ10 per day can help support cardiovascular health.* Heart health is a pretty big deal, so check with your doctor or healthcare provider to see if CoQ10 supplementation is right for you. * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.