Acerola extract with 25 percent natural vitamin C

Vitamin C can be produced synthetically or obtained from plants. Vitalplant's acerola capsules take the second route: the vitamin C comes entirely from acerola cherry extract.

What’s in a capsule

500 mg acerola extract. The extract is standardized to a vitamin C content of 25 percent. 500 mg of extract provides 125 mg of vitamin C per capsule, which corresponds to 156 percent of the nutrient reference value.

The acerola cherry. Malpighia glabra is a shrub from Central America and the Caribbean. The fruits look like cherries, but botanically they are not related. They spoil quickly and are therefore processed soon after harvesting.

Only two ingredients. Besides the extract, the capsule contains only the shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No added ascorbic acid powder, no fillers.

What vitamin C does

Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal energy-yielding metabolism. It also contributes to normal function of the nervous system and normal psychological function.

Vitamin C helps protect cells from oxidative stress and supports normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones, cartilage, and blood vessels. Vitamin C also increases iron absorption.

All statements listed are included in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

Acerola capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two components: acerola extract and the capsule shell. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Horsetail extract with 7 percent silicon

Horsetail is a living fossil. Its genus has existed for over 300 million years, long before flowering plants. Vitalplant horsetail capsules contain an extract standardized to 7 percent silicon.

Why this plant contains so much silicon

Horsetail stores silica in its cell walls. This makes the stems unusually hard and rough. This very property gave the plant its old German name: as pewterwort, it was used for centuries to scour pewterware.

500 mg extract per capsule. At three capsules a day, that corresponds to around 105 mg silicon from the 7 percent standardization.

Only the green shoots are used. In spring, horsetail first produces brownish shoots with spore cones, followed by the green, whorled, branching summer shoots. Only these are harvested.

Equisetum arvense: the plant and the risk of confusion

The plant grows in fields, along roadsides, and on embankments throughout Europe. It produces neither flowers nor seeds, but reproduces through spores, similar to ferns.

For raw material quality, species purity is crucial. The closely related marsh horsetail looks similar, but is a different raw material. Controlled origin and tested batches are therefore more important with this plant than with many others.

Horsetail capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two ingredients: horsetail extract and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, packaged in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Artichoke leaf extract, standardized to 10 percent cynarin

When people think of artichokes, they think of the vegetable. But for an extract, a different part of the plant is used. Vitalplant artichoke capsules contain a leaf extract standardized to 10 percent cynarin.

Why the leaves and not the bud

What ends up on the plate is the artichoke’s immature flower bud. The extract, by contrast, comes from the plant’s large, deeply cut leaves. They are the part of the plant with the highest content of bitter compounds.

Cynarin as a measure. Cynarin is a derivative of caffeic acid and one of the artichoke’s characteristic bitter compounds. Its content serves as the standardization value: our extract is set to 10 percent, so every batch falls within the same range.

Why standardization is used. The bitter compound content of a plant varies considerably depending on the variety, location, and harvest time. A standardized extract balances out these fluctuations.

Cynara scolymus: plant and origin

The artichoke belongs to the daisy family and is therefore related to thistles and sunflowers. It grows up to two meters tall and forms striking purple flower heads if you let it bloom.

The cultivated form originates in the Mediterranean region, where it has been grown since ancient times. To this day, the main growing areas are in Italy, Spain, and France. As a vegetable, it spread from there throughout Europe.

Artichoke capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two components: artichoke leaf extract and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no separating agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, bottled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Three essentials for skin, hair and nails

Beauty Vital brings together three products from our Beauty and Anti-Aging range: a micronutrient complex, collagen peptides for your daily drink, and high-dose OPC. Save compared to ordering each product separately.

What’s in the bundle

Skin, Hair and Nails Capsules. The daily capsule combines biotin, zinc and horsetail-derived silicon with acerola and other selected vitamins.

Collagen Shine Powder. Provides collagen peptides from the branded ingredient VERISOL®, developed specifically for this application. The powder is unflavoured and easily stirred into a drink.

OPC Capsules. 418 mg of pure OPC from French grape seed extract per daily dose, complemented by piperine from black pepper. OPC is one of the best-known secondary plant compounds.

What the nutrients do

Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and hair. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails. Vitamin C from acerola cherries contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin. These claims are listed in the EU Register of authorised health claims.

Ingredients and quality

All three products come unchanged from our range, with no unnecessary additives and independently tested in the laboratory for each batch. Details on recommended use and preparation can be found on the product pages.

Vitalplant is backed by Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Organic aronia berry powder from EU cultivation

The aronia berry is hardly edible in its raw state. Its high tannin content makes it so tart that it is almost never eaten fresh. The organic Aronia capsules from Vitalplant contain the ground fruit powder with no other ingredients.

What makes the berry special

The color comes from anthocyanins. Aronia berries are among the darkest fruits of all. Responsible for this are anthocyanins, water-soluble plant pigments from the flavonoid group, which also give elderberry, blueberry, and red cabbage their color.

Tannins shape the flavor. The tart, astringent note comes from tannins. They are the reason aronia is traditionally processed into juice, liqueur, or jam instead of being eaten fresh.

500 mg of fruit powder per capsule. Ground whole berry, not concentrated. The raw material is certified according to the EU organic regulation, control body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin EU agriculture.

Aronia melanocarpa: shrub and cultivation

The black chokeberry originally comes from eastern North America. It belongs to the rose family and is therefore related to apples and pears, which is also reflected in the German name.

The plant came to Europe in the 19th century. It is extremely frost-hardy and has low soil requirements, which is why it has become established as a cultivated plant in Eastern Europe and now also in Germany. It is harvested in late summer.

Organic Aronia capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two components: organic aronia berry powder and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Pharmacy.

Organic Ashwagandha Capsules with KSM-66 from the Pure Root

Ashwagandha has only been a familiar name in Europe for a few years, whereas in India the plant has been cultivated for centuries. Vitalplant’s Organic Ashwagandha Capsules use KSM-66, a trademarked extract made from the pure root.

Why only the root

Ashwagandha, botanically Withania somnifera, belongs to the nightshade family. The plant grows up to one and a half meters tall and bears small orange-red berries, which have earned it the nickname winter cherry. Depending on the manufacturer, extracts may use roots, leaves, or both.

KSM-66 uses only the root. Leaves and berries are left out. This is more labor-intensive because the yield per plant is lower, but it corresponds to the plant part that has been passed down in Indian herbal tradition.

From controlled organic cultivation. The raw material comes from non-EU agriculture and is certified under the EU Organic Regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039. This means verified growing conditions without synthetic pesticides and without genetic engineering.

Withania somnifera: origin and name

Ashwagandha thrives in dry, warm regions and is cultivated mainly in India. The root is harvested after about six months, then washed, cut, and dried.

The name comes from Sanskrit and is made up of ashva for horse and gandha for smell. It refers to the strong, earthy smell of the fresh root, which really does resemble a stable. This scent is no longer noticeable in the extract.

Organic Ashwagandha Capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two ingredients: organic ashwagandha root extract and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free. It is filled into light-protective amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Vitalplant is backed by Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Apotheke.

Fourteen ingredients with rosemary and mint oil

Vitalplant’s organic breath tea is the most complex blend in our tea range: fourteen ingredients, including two essential oils, which give the infusion its distinctive freshness.

The herbal blend

Rosehip peel and apple pieces form the base and provide a fruity-tart underlying note. Hibiscus flowers intensify the acidity and give the infusion a deep red color.

Lemongrass and star anise add the aromatic accents, one citrusy, the other sweetly spicy thanks to its anethole.

Five mint family herbs shape the herbal component: curly mint, sage, rosemary, peppermint, and thyme. Add to that nettle leaves and linden blossoms.

Rosemary oil and mint oil are added as essential oils. They make all the difference from a pure leaf blend, because they dissolve immediately when steeped.

Preparation and taste

Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 3 g of tea and let it steep for 5 to 8 minutes. The infusion is distinctly fresh and herbal, with the fruity notes becoming more pronounced the longer it steeps.

The tea is naturally caffeine-free and suitable for any time of day. If you prefer the essential oils more intensely, cover the cup while steeping.

Organic breath tea: origin and quality

100 g of loose tea yields around 30 servings. The ingredients come from certified organic cultivation, certified according to EU organic regulations, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin EU and non-EU agriculture. No added sugar. Packed in a resealable stand-up pouch.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Pharmacy.

Organic flower pollen with 20 g protein per 100 g

Flower pollen is not a bee product in the sense of honey, but collected plant material. Bees carry it in as food for their brood, and beekeepers harvest a small portion of it.

How flower pollen is harvested

On their foraging flights, bees brush off pollen and shape it with their hind legs into small pellets, the pollen baskets. At the hive entrance, a pollen trap removes part of it.

The color reveals the plant. Flower pollen is never monochrome. Yellow often comes from rapeseed, orange from dandelion, and gray to black from poppy. A bag therefore always contains a mosaic of colors.

After harvesting, the pollen is gently dried and cleaned. Our pollen comes from EU agriculture and certified organic beekeeping, certified according to the EU organic regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039.

Nutritional values and use

Per 100 g, flower pollen contains 19.8 g protein, 62.4 g carbohydrates and 9.29 g fat. The energy value is 1.405 kJ, or 333 kcal.

That means around 24 percent of the energy value comes from protein. The EU threshold for claiming a high protein content is 20 percent.

Depending on the source plant, flower pollen tastes floral to slightly bitter. A teaspoon over yogurt, porridge or in a smoothie is common. If you find the taste unfamiliar at first, start with small amounts.

Organic flower pollen: origin and quality

One ingredient only: organic flower pollen, dried. No additives, no added sugar. Packed in a resealable stand-up pouch. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Apotheke.

No fruiting body, but a crust on the birch

Organic Chaga capsules from Vitalplant contain extract from Inonotus obliquus. What is harvested from Chaga is botanically something different from every other mushroom in our range.

How Chaga grows

The fungus Inonotus obliquus infects living birches, especially in cold regions: Siberia, Scandinavia, Canada, Northeastern Europe. At the site of infection, over the years a black, cracked mass forms that looks like charred wood.

This mass is not a fruiting body, but a sclerotium, a sterile, persistent structure made of compacted fungal mycelium. The actual fruiting body only develops when the tree dies, and is hardly ever found.

On the outside, the sclerotium is deep black, due to a high melanin content. If you break it open, a rust-orange interior appears. Because the fungus draws its material from the living birch for years, it also contains components of the tree itself.

Why no effects are described here

Chaga is traditionally used as an infusion in Northern Europe and Russia, and many stories have grown up around it accordingly.

In the EU, no health claims are approved for mushroom extracts. So we do not make any, neither directly nor by implication. We describe the mushroom, not its supposed performance.

Origin and processing

The extract powder comes from certified organic cultivation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin non-EU agriculture. In addition to the extract, the capsule contains only its vegan shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

With 500 mg per capsule and one capsule a day, Chaga is the easiest product in our mushroom range to dose. Amber glass largely blocks the UV portion of light.

Chaga is also included in the Organic Medicinal Mushroom Complex, there with 125 mg per capsule alongside Reishi, Hericium and Shiitake.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Organic chia seeds with 31 g fiber per 100 g

Chia seeds swell in water to ten times their volume and form a gel in the process. This makes them versatile in the kitchen and explains why they have established themselves as a superfood.

Where chia comes from

Salvia hispanica belongs to the sage family, so it is related to culinary sage. The plant comes from Mexico and Guatemala, where it was cultivated long before the Spanish conquest. The name chia is derived from the Nahuatl word for oily.

The gel is formed by soluble fiber. It binds water and forms a coating around the seed. That is exactly why chia pudding works without a binding agent.

Our chia seeds come from Mexico and controlled organic cultivation, certified according to the EU Organic Regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039.

Nutritional values and use

Per 100 g, the seeds contain 31.4 g fiber, 21.2 g protein, 31.1 g fat and only 0.8 g sugar. The caloric value is 1,832 kJ, or 444 kcal.

With 31.4 g fiber per 100 g, the content is five times the EU threshold for the claim high fiber content, which starts at 6 g per 100 g.

Before consumption, the seeds should be soaked in water or milk. They are suitable as a pudding, as a topping for yogurt and porridge, or as an ingredient in baking.

Organic chia seeds: origin and quality

One single ingredient: organic chia seeds, whole and untreated. After harvesting, they are gently cleaned. Packed in a resealable stand-up pouch. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Fermented organic drink made from 22 plant-based ingredients

Most dietary supplements come as capsules or powders. Vitalplant’s Bio Gut Elixir is a liquid ferment: 22 fruit, vegetable, and herb ingredients from certified organic farming, prepared with microorganisms and fermented.

What fermentation does to the ingredients

Fermentation is one of the oldest food production methods. Microorganisms transform the components of the raw material in the process. Cabbage becomes sauerkraut, milk becomes yogurt, grapes become wine. The process takes time, temperature, and the right cultures.

Seven cultures. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are at work in the starter, a total of seven different strains. They are contained in the finished drink.

That’s why it’s liquid. A ferment cannot be put into a capsule without losing its character. For Gut Elixir, the liquid form is not a matter of convenience, but the result of the process.

The 22 ingredients

The largest share consists of root and tuber vegetables: Jerusalem artichoke, beetroot, pumpkin, onion, and garlic. These are joined by fruits including cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry, grape, blueberry, and apple.

The recipe is rounded out with leafy vegetables and herbs such as broccoli, parsley, dandelion, and artichoke, as well as spices: ginger, turmeric, and pepper. Spirulina, walnut, and lemon complete the blend.

For fermented plant-based ingredients, we state the recipe, origin, and process. This can be verified.

Bio Gut Elixir: composition and quality

The elixir is certified under the EU organic regulation, certification body number DE-ÖKO-039, and the ingredients come from EU and non-EU agriculture. It is bottled in amber glass. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Fiber powder with 58 g fiber per 100 g

Dietary fiber is the part of plant-based food that the small intestine does not break down. The German Nutrition Society recommends that adults consume at least 30 grams per day. Vitalplant’s Bio Darm Vital powder is made up of just under 59 percent fiber.

Where the fiber comes from

Acacia fiber. Obtained from acacia resin, also known as gum arabic. The fiber is water-soluble, tasteless, and barely changes the consistency of the mixed powder.

Inulin from agave and Jerusalem artichoke. Inulin is a polysaccharide made of fructose units that many plants store as a reserve substance. Jerusalem artichoke is the classic European source, agave the South American one.

Lucuma, baobab, celery, and ginger. Four additional plant-based ingredients. Lucuma is a South American fruit with a caramel-like aroma, baobab the fruit of the African monkey bread tree.

Two mushroom extracts. Lion’s mane mushroom and turkey tail, both from certified organic cultivation.

What high fiber content means

In the EU, the claim “high fiber content” is tied to a fixed threshold: at least 6 grams of fiber per 100 grams. At just under 59 grams, Bio Darm Vital is almost ten times this value.

This is a nutrition claim, not a health claim. It describes what is contained and makes no promise of an effect.

Bio Darm Vital: composition and quality

All ingredients come from certified organic cultivation, certified according to the EU Organic Regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039. No sugar, no flavorings, no anti-caking agents. Because the powder contains no artificial additives, it tends to clump, so reseal it well after each use. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

88 grams of fiber per 100 grams

Hardly any other product comes close to this value. Organic psyllium husks from Vitalplant consist almost entirely of fiber, and the reason for that lies in which part of the plant is used at all.

Only the husk, not the seed

Plantago ovata is a plantain and is therefore related to the ribwort plantain that grows in Central European meadows. The species is cultivated mainly in India and Pakistan, where it copes well with dry soils.

The German name is descriptive: the tiny, dark, elongated seeds look like fleas. However, the whole seed is not processed, but only its outer husk. The seed kernel contains oil and protein, while the husk contains almost only mucilage.

These mucilage substances are arabinoxylans. They bind many times their own weight in water and form a gel in the process. That is exactly what happens in the glass when you stir in the powder: after one to two minutes, the liquid is visibly thicker.

What the nutritional values show

At 88.25 g of fiber per 100 g, the content is almost fifteen times the EU threshold for the claim high fiber content, which starts at 6 g.

Aside from that, there is practically nothing else in it: 0.24 g sugar and 0.24 g fat per 100 g. This also makes the powder meet the conditions for low sugar and low fat. The energy value is 808 kJ, or 193 kcal per 100 g, and this comes almost entirely from fiber, of which the body only uses a small portion.

Grind, origin, and quality

Our husks are ground, not whole. That makes a noticeable difference: powder swells faster and more evenly, distributes without residue, and can also be worked into dough. Whole husks, by contrast, remain grainy and take longer.

Because the powder binds liquid, enough of it should be used. If you stir it in, you should drink it quickly before the gel sets.

A single ingredient, from certified organic cultivation, control body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin non-EU agriculture. No additives, no flavorings, naturally neutral in taste. Packed in a resealable stand-up pouch.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Seven herbs and flowers from European herbal tradition

Vitalplant’s organic women’s tea uses seven ingredients, mostly from Central Europe. All are organically grown and contain no flavorings.

The herbal blend

Yarrow herb makes up the largest share. Achillea millefolium is a member of the daisy family that grows in almost every meadow. The species name millefolium, meaning thousand-leaf, describes its finely divided leaves.

Lady’s mantle herb follows as the second ingredient. Alchemilla vulgaris belongs to the rose family. In the morning, the leaves collect water droplets along the edge, which gave the plant its botanical name: alchemists considered this water to be especially pure.

Lemongrass and St. John’s wort follow, along with chamomile flowers, marigold flowers, and hop flowers. Chamomile and marigold are daisy family plants like yarrow, giving the blend its floral, mild base note.

Preparation and taste

Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 3 g of tea and let steep for 5 to 8 minutes. Yarrow and hop bring a distinct bitter note, which is softened by lemongrass and chamomile.

The tea is naturally caffeine-free and suitable for any time of day.

Organic women’s tea: origin and quality

100 g of loose tea yields around 30 servings. All seven ingredients come from certified organic farming, certified according to the EU organic regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin EU and non-EU agriculture. No flavorings, no additives, no sugar. Packed in a resealable stand-up pouch.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Dried organic goji berries from China

Botanically, goji berries are not berries in the strict sense and are more closely related to the tomato than to blueberries or raspberries. Dried, they taste sweet and tart with a slightly earthy note.

What the goji berry is

Lycium barbarum belongs to the nightshade family, the same family as tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. The shrub grows up to three meters tall and bears small purple flowers from which the bright orange-red fruits develop.

The color comes from carotenoids. The same group of compounds also gives carrots and rose hips their color. In the goji berry, zeaxanthin is the predominant carotenoid.

Goji berries are grown mainly in northern China. After harvest, they are gently dried, which gives them their typical slightly leathery texture. Our berries come from certified organic cultivation, certified according to the EU organic regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039.

Nutrition values and use

Per 100 g, the dried berries contain 11.9 g fiber, 10.6 g protein, and 53 g carbohydrates, of which 49.9 g are naturally occurring fruit sugar. The calorific value is 1,192 kJ, or 281 kcal.

At 11.9 g of fiber per 100 g, the content is double the EU threshold for claiming high fiber content.

Goji berries can be eaten straight from the hand, added to muesli and porridge, or used for baking. Soaked in warm water, they become softer again.

Organic goji berries: origin and quality

One single ingredient: organic goji berries, dried and unsulphured. No added sugar, no preservatives, no flavorings. Packed in a resealable stand-up pouch. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Organic rosehip powder from the whole fruit

Rosehips are neither berries nor nuts; botanically, they are something of their own. The Organic Rosehip Capsules from Vitalplant contain ground rosehip from certified organic farming, with no other ingredients.

What a rosehip actually is

The rosehip is the false fruit of the rose. What looks red and fleshy is the swollen flower base. The actual fruits are the small hard seeds inside, surrounded by fine hairs. These hairs are the reason rosehips were once used as itch powder.

Powder, not extract. For our capsules, the dried fruit is ground and not further concentrated. One capsule contains 500 mg rosehip powder, meaning the whole ground raw material.

From certified organic farming. Certified according to the EU Organic Regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin non-EU agriculture.

Rosa canina: plant and harvest

The dog rose is the most common wild rose in Europe. It grows as a shrub along forest edges and hedges and reaches up to three meters in height. In May and June it bears pale pink flowers; from September onward, the rosehips ripen.

They are harvested after the first frosts because the fruits then become softer. They are then dried and ground. In the kitchen, rosehip is best known as purée and jam.

Organic rosehip capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two components: organic rosehip powder and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no separating agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Shelled organic hemp seeds with 34 g protein per 100 g

Hemp seeds are among the most protein-rich plant-based foods there are. Shelled, they taste mild and nutty, similar to pine nuts, and can be used without preparation.

Shelled or unshelled

Unshelled hemp seeds have a hard, fibrous hull that crunches unpleasantly when chewed. Shelling removes it, leaving the soft seed kernel.

Food-grade hemp is not an intoxicant. For food products, only approved industrial hemp varieties are grown, with THC content limited by law. The seed itself naturally contains practically no THC.

Our hemp seeds come from EU agriculture and controlled organic farming, certified according to the EU Organic Regulation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039.

Nutritional values and use

Per 100 g, the shelled seeds contain 34.3 g protein and 43.5 g fat, of which only 4 g are saturated fatty acids. Carbohydrates are 6.4 g, and fiber is 3.8 g. The energy value is 2,351 kJ, or 562 kcal.

That means around 25 percent of the energy value comes from protein. The EU threshold for a high-protein claim is 20 percent.

Shelled hemp seeds need no preparation. They are great on salads, yogurt, and porridge, in smoothies, or as an ingredient in bread and baked goods. They should only be heated briefly, as the fatty acids are delicate.

Organic hemp seeds: origin and quality

One ingredient only: shelled organic hemp seeds. No additives, no oil, no salt. Due to the high fat content, cool storage in the resealable stand-up pouch is recommended. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

A mushroom with spines instead of gills

Bio Hericium Capsules from Vitalplant contain extract from Hericium erinaceus. Anyone who has seen the mushroom once won’t forget it: it looks like a white waterfall.

Lion’s mane, hedgehog mushroom, monkey head mushroom

Most mushrooms form their spores on gills or in tubes on the underside of the cap. Hericium does it differently. It does not form a cap, but rather a white clump from which hundreds of soft spines hang down, up to five centimeters long.

Hence the German names hedgehog mushroom and monkey head mushroom. Lion’s mane comes from English, Lion's Mane.

It grows on weakened or dead deciduous trees, in Europe mainly on beech and oak. In Germany, it has become so rare in the wild that it is under nature protection and may not be collected. As an edible mushroom, it is therefore cultivated; its flesh is reminiscent in texture of crab meat.

Why there is no efficacy claim here

Many claims circulate about Hericium. None of them is approved in the EU as a health claim; there simply are none for mushroom extracts.

That is why we do not write anything about an effect, not even indirectly. The mushroom, the amount of extract, and the organic origin are stated on this page, and that is all.

Origin and processing

The extract powder comes from certified organic cultivation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin non-EU agriculture. In addition to the extract, the capsule contains only its own shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, so no anti-caking agent and no filler.

It is filled into amber glass, which largely blocks the UV portion of the light.

Hericium is also included in the Organic Medicinal Mushroom Complex, though there it comes in a much smaller daily amount because it shares space with three other mushrooms.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.