This month, I am reviewing product samples which I tried and tested three to four months ago. This review deals on supplements and some solutions to minor ailments and so it took me a number of months to test and taste them to make sure that I write unbiased and unhurried reviews. Here is The Joy of Free Samples: Health Edition.

 

1. Snack Bars (Kind Snacks)

Here’s the best snack bar among all snack bars. It’s tasty, yummy, and healthy. The almonds and coconut bar floored me. Mehn, this has got to be the best snack bar in the world with only five grams of sugar. Did I just say it’s the best snack bar? I got this one from a friend who joined their #kindawesome program to celebrate little acts of kindness everywhere.

 

2.Prenatal Vitamin Drink (Premama)

Ladies, this product advertises itself as an alternative to prenatal pills, which some pregnant women can’t stand taking because of size and taste. So along came Premama which says that it made a tasteless powdered drink that you can mix with your fruit juices, non-carbonated beverages, and soft foods such as yogurt and oatmeal. The promise is that you’ll still get the essential B vitamin, folic acid, and ferrochel gentle iron without having to swallow those horse pills. But trying this months ago was a complete turn off. For one, do not mix this with pure water because the taste is horrible. It has this weird metal taste that will make you puke instead of helping you with your nausea. I don’t recommend mixing this with apple and orange juices either; the powder turns them bitter. The only drink that seemed to hide the metal taste was when I mixed it with hot chocolate. But it’s just not worth it to spend $14 for a box containing 28 packets. Thankfully, I didn’t have any issues taking prenatal pills so I ditched this drink mix without shedding a tear or two.

 

3. Moringa Olifera capsules (Swanson)

Known as kamunggay or malunggay in the Philippines, moringa leaves are common ingredients of a dish called utan bisaya, different kinds of vegetables (squash, eggplant, okra) and fried fish boiled together and seasoned with salt. Moringa leaves are also known to help increase a lactating mother’s milk supply. A bowl of utan bisaya was part of my daily diet back in 2013 to 2014 when I was nursing my twin toddlers in the Philippines. Here in the US, I ordered the moringa capsules from Amazon and have been taking it since I gave birth to Jeff Junior. The result? I still prefer the fresh thing but as for the capsules, I can say that they work! My baby is now four months old and I’m still breastfeeding the whole day.

 

4. All-natural electrolyte solution (PediaVance)

I got the apple-flavored pack and it tastes pretty good. I took it while I was vomiting and suffering from diarrhea and got better before the day ended. Other electrolyte solutions that I have tried before also worked but the plus point for PediaVance is the taste because it was just like drinking apple juice. You’ll enjoy the drink’s apple flavor when you get a little better. The manufacturer, Nature’s One, says this product can also be used for children age two and up. Thankfully, the twins haven’t had diarrhea since Antoinette’s emergency room visit back in 2014 so I haven’t tried this product on them. I will still have to ask their pediatrician if this one is safe for them just to make sure.

 

5. Protein Drink (Premier Protein)

The chocolate drink is great tasting and can be drank on its own. It’s like drinking a really thick and concentrated (is there such a thing in the area of chocolate drinks?!) chilled choco drink. The vanilla variety is best when mixed with fruits, my favorite being mixed berries. I had gestational diabetes while pregnant and avoided sugary drinks. This was my post pregnancy drink as I recovered and returned to my usual non-pregnant routine. It is low fat, has 30 grams protein per bottle, 160 calories, and only one gram sugar.

 

6. Relief Patches (Tuning Element)

This is the same company that sells that bracelet which is supposed to help you make feel better and reduces pain. The relief patches are their new products which “rapidly promotes and activates the necessary energy points (or acupuncture points) of the body”. Have you used Salonpas before? If yes, you get the picture on how these relief patches work. The instructions however said to place the patches near the area of discomfort and not on top of it. I always have shoulder and back pains so I tried these patches but did not feel any different. I’ll stick to good old heating liquid, massage oil, and deep-tissue hand massage.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more samples of the prloducts mentioned above. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”