So you’ve cleaned out your medicine cabinet and unearthed those supplements you had completely forgotten about. Or maybe you found a great deal on supplements online at a huge discount. Heads up: They may be expired. And while it may be safe to take them, you may not be getting the full benefits of the supplements.

Today, we’re addressing the age-old question “To take or not to take?” as it applies in the vitamin and supplement world, and we’ll share advice from experts on just what to do with any expired supplements you come across. 

Is it Safe to Take Expired Vitamins & Supplements?

In general, it’s considered safe to take expired vitamins and supplements, since most of these products, when expired, usually do not become toxic. However, you should never take any supplements that show signs of mold or have a strange odor—these should be disposed of safely.

But there’s a catch: While experts agree that taking a supplement past its prime is generally safe, they do start to break down and lose their potency after they expire. So those who rely on supplementation to counteract deficiencies, such as osteoporosis or malabsorption due to GI dysfunction, or women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, should take caution to use supplements within their recommended timeframe in order to get the full benefits of the ingredients.

How Long do Vitamins & Supplements Last?

How long supplements last depends on ingredients, delivery method and how they’re being stored. For instance, gummies, chews and liquids break down a lot faster than pills, powders and tablets. If you find that you’re not able to use up your supplements before they expire, try purchasing a smaller quantity, more frequently, so you’re not throwing money away when you have to toss expired products. 

Unopened supplements and vitamins are more likely to retain their potency because moisture, light and oxygen are less likely to affect them.

How to Store Vitamins & Supplements

To get the most out of your vitamins and supplements, be sure to store them in their original containers, and away from environmental factors like sunlight, humidity, water and air. Whenever possible, store your bottles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. To reduce exposure to heat and humidity, it’s advisable to keep supplements out of the kitchen and bathroom, too—especially in smaller spaces.

Keep in mind that storage instructions will vary between supplements, so always check the bottle and follow the manufacturers recommendations.

How to Dispose of Expired Vitamins & Supplements

If you come across expired vitamins and supplements, it’s important to dispose of them responsibly. Improper disposal of these products increases the risk of children or animals consuming them, which could have negative consequences.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following steps for proper disposal of vitamins, supplements and medications:

1. Remove the pills from the original container.
2. Place the vitamins in a disposable container or bag with coffee grinds, cat litter or another undesirable substance. When they’re mixed with these, curious children or pets are less likely to find them in the trash.
3. Close the container or seal the bag.
4. Place the entire container/bag in the trash.

To avoid purchasing products that are being sold close to or after their expiration date, try purchasing directly from the manufacturer whenever possible. That’s where you will find the freshest product, as discounted retailers or sellers on auction websites often sit on large amounts of product for long periods of time, which means you’re getting a subpar product that’s either almost or completely expired—and not as effective.

For all of your (and your family’s) immunity needs, Vyral Defense has you covered. Our products are 100 percent made in the U.S. with patented and clinically proven ingredients, always fresh and never out-of-date. Feel the difference—take the Vyral Defense Challenge today!

In the world of supplements, there’s so much information out there that it can be hard to know where to start. But one thing’s for sure: You want to get what you’re paying for, and not flush your hard-earned money down the drain—literally. And that’s where bioavailability comes in.

So what does bioavailability mean and why does it matter when it comes to choosing a supplement? Well, we’ve got you covered—read on to find out!

What Does Bioavailability Mean?

In the medical and nutrition communities, bioavailability was traditionally defined as how quickly a vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient enters your bloodstream. But the bloodstream is not where this story ends. Just because a nutrient has entered your bloodstream doesn’t mean it’s getting where it needs to go, or is being used efficiently when it gets there.

Fortunately, this definition has evolved to take more into account than just speed. Bioavailability is now recognized as how efficiently your body can absorb and use a particular nutrient.

When your body doesn’t absorb or use a vitamin or nutrient, it’s treated as excess—and most excess vitamins and nutrients are flushed out of your system in your urine. So when you take supplements that aren’t bioavailable, you’re literally flushing them down the toilet.

How to Choose the Best Supplements

When it comes to bioavailability, all vitamins, minerals, and supplements are not created equal.

Supplements that are formulated to have high bioavailability will be more effective, as they’ll help your body absorb more of a nutrient without having to take a higher dose.

So when you’re shopping for supplements, consider these factors that can affect bioavailability:

• ABSORPTION: Does the supplement use the most absorbable form of the vitamin, mineral, or nutrient? Some nutrient forms are better absorbed than others. (And remember: Just because a supplement has a high dose of a nutrient doesn’t mean your body can absorb and use it all!)
• DELIVERY METHOD: The delivery method can impact a nutrient’s bioavailability. For example, in some cases, a capsule is better than a tablet.
  
• PURITY: Purity is another way of saying how much of the nutrient is actually in your supplement. Some supplements use fillers that can cause digestive issues or be problematic for those with food sensitivities or allergies.

Bioavailable Immunity Supplements

Immune defense is a serious subject (especially during cold and flu season!). So how do you make sure that you’re getting the very best supplements to protect yourself and your family?

Start with a good-quality, U.S.-manufactured product that’s made with bioavailable ingredients. This will give your body the head-start of being able to absorb and retain these nutrients better than other supplements.

Vyral Defense is 100 percent U.S. sourced and made, from the ingredients all the way down to the packaging. And we use patented, clinically proven ingredients that optimize bioavailability and efficacy. Because we know that your family deserves the best.

Still need convincing? Take the Vyral Defense Challenge today—backed by a money-back guarantee!

Whether you’re stocking up on immunity supplements for the whole fam or you just like to have options when it comes to flavors, we’ve got you covered! Introducing Vyral Defense Build Your Own Immunity Bundles—a BYOB that your immune system will love.

What is It?

Mix and match any of our immunity products, in any combination, to get exactly what you need to care for yourself and your family’s immune health through cold and flu season, and beyond. The Build Your Own Immunity Bundle is a kit of three of our products of your choice. The benefit? Bundling three products will save you some serious cash!

How Does it Work?

So, how does the Build Your Own Immunity Bundle work? It’s pretty simple. Shop our site to find the Build Your Own Immunity Kit. Then choose any three of our products, add to cart, and check out. Boosting your immunity is as easy as one, two, three!

Why Do You Need It?

Variety is the spice of life, and variety in your immunity booster products is just what you need to sample all the tasty flavors we offer—from Sicilian Blood Orange to Elderberry (and even Cotton Candy for the kiddos!). Whether you’re a first-timer who wants to try them all or a die-hard Vyral Defense fan looking to stock up and save, the Build Your Own Immunity Bundle is the way to go.

No matter which flavors you choose, you’ll be completely covered by the triple protection of our three patented and clinically proven ingredients:

BetaVia™ Complete for clinically tested immune support, 3.3 fewer sick days, and protection against upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.

Sensoril® Ashwagandha for clinically tested immune and stress support, plus improved sleep, energy, and focus.

PureWay-C® for powerful antioxidant protection that strengthens the immune system and is more bioavailable than generic vitamin C supplements.

So go ahead—bundle your immunity products, save a few bucks, go forth, and make this your best year yet with Vyral Defense!

If you’re new around these parts, you may not know that Vyral Defense can help supercharge your immune system and provide year-round support with patented, clinically-proven ingredients that help keep the whole family healthy and feeling their best.

And if that’s the case, no worries—we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to meet the Vyral Defense family of products, learn more about why our ingredients are different and most importantly, what benefits they all bring to the table.

Our 3 Best-Selling Immunity Products 

1. Elderberry Blast Effervescent Tablets

Where it all began, our original formulation features a refreshing fizz and tart elderberry flavor. Just drop a tablet in water, let it dissolve and drink up the immunity benefits!

2. Sicilian Blood Orange On-the-Go Sticks

Our go-anywhere sticks packs are perfect for stashing in your bag, car or desk for any time you need a boost. The convenient formulation paired with our tasty blood orange flavor makes this a fan fave.

3. Cotton Candy Fast-Melt Power Pixies

Specially formulated for ages 6 to 16, our Power Pixies deliver a fun flavor that’s also fun to take! Simply dissolve on the tongue for easy immune defense for your minis.

Supercharged with Super Benefits 

Vyral Defense is much more than just a vitamin C supplement. Our secret powers are thanks in part to three mighty ingredients, with even mightier benefits.

BetaVia™ Complete is a nutrient-dense, algae-sourced beta glucan that provides safe and natural immune support. It’s clinically proven to have some pretty impressive benefits, too.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 90-day study of healthy active adults, participants taking BetaVia™ Complete reported:

• 3.3 fewer sick days
• 70% fewer upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms
• 80% significantly lower overall severity of URTI symptoms
• 10 fewer URTI symptom days

Sensoril® Ashwagandha is a powerful adaptogen that helps your body adjust to physical, chemical or biological stress and has been shown to enhance focus, reduce stress and support a healthy immune response.

This proprietary blend is derived from both the roots and leaves of the Withania somnifera plant to provide optional efficacy and bioactive diversity. Sensoril® Ashwagandha has been studied in 12 human clinical trials and was found to:

• Help the body cope with everyday stress by reducing cortisol
• Improve sleep, energy and focus
• Support a healthy immune response
• Enhance cognitive health, mood and vitality
• Strengthen cardiovascular health and joint health
• Support a healthy lipid profile and endothelial function in the heart and blood vessels

Last—but far from least—PureWay-C® is a highly bioavailable form of vitamin C that your body absorbs and retains better than generic vitamin C, for greater immune system support and powerful antioxidant benefits.

With its innovative formulation, clinically-proven PureWay-C® is backed by published, peer-reviewed research and outperforms other leading vitamin C ingredients in the key areas of absorption speed and retention:

• Effectively strengthens the immune system against viruses
• Powerful antioxidant known to reduce inflammation
• Helps prevent iron deficiencies by boosting iron absorption
• Essential for growth, development and repair of all body tissues
• Protects memory and cognitive thinking throughout the aging process

And if those benefits aren’t convincing enough on their own, we invite you to take the Vyral Defense Challenge. Give Vyral Defense a try, whether it’s your first time using immunity booster products, or in place of your go-to immunity brand. If our products don’t exceed your expectations, or beat out your usual immunity supplement’s performance, we’ll give you a full refund. Take the Vyral Defense Challenge today—money back guaranteed!