As runners, we are always on the lookout for the next thing that can give us that extra edge. While supplements always sound promising, it’s hard to find one you can trust in the largely unregulated supplement aisle. As it turns out, pro athletes LeBron James and Lindsey Vonn felt the same way. They, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cindy Crawford, weren’t able to find the perfect protein powder or a clean energy booster they could trust. So they teamed up to create Ladder, a new subscription-based, direct-to-consumer wellness and supplement brand.
The four founders set out to build product safe enough for highest level athlete but designed for everyday person. Ladder’s products include greens supplements for an immunity boost, bone strength, and stress reduction; protein powder that helps build muscle and speed up recovery; and energy supplements that help you stay focused and alert. For each product, Ladder has already received an NSF certification, which signifies that it meets “strict standards for public health protection” governed by a third body that deals with all major sports leagues. Why you don’t see NSF certifications on most supplements? It’s expensive to do the testing.
How you receive the product is personalized to meet your specific needs. All you have to do is answer a questionnaire on the website about your fitness, health, and nutrition goals and preferences, and it recommends what will work best for you.
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Ladder recognizes that health and wellness is all about education, too, so the website will feature a content platform full of science- and expert-backed information to answer any questions you may have along the way and debunk some common nutrition myths.
“Ladder is an inclusive approach; it’s not product-based,” said Adam Bornstein, chief nutrition officer, head of content, and health advisor at Ladder. “We need to democratize health information more than anything.”
The cost of a Ladder subscription will range from $60 to $90 for two recommended products on a monthly, 30-day cycle. Each month, you will also receive a surprise gift like a high-quality shaker bottle, for example.
Danielle Zickl is a freelance writer who has 10 years of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition. She's a graduate of Ithaca College. You can find her work here on Women's Health, and in many other publications including PS, SELF, Well+Good, Runner’s World, Outside RUN, Peloton, Men’s Fitness, and more.
