As the year winds down, I like to pause and ask a simple question:

What actually helped — and what just added noise?

Especially in an age of endless (and remarkably effective) hype and marketing, dietary supplements fall into both categories. Most aren’t worth your time or money, but that doesn’t mean it’s all snake oil.

A personalized approach in collaboration with a trusted guide who cares about this stuff and knows you well is ideal with respect to both efficacy and safety, but I know that type of relationship is hard to find these days.

I want to teach you about a few options from two brands I know, trust, and use in my daily life.

If you’ve ever worked with me as a patient in my integrative dermatology practice, you may be familiar with the detailed emails I often compose and send after your appointment so you can learn and retain more of the information I’m trying to teach you.

I try to dive deeper into dermatologic diseases and overall integrative health than most dermatologists. The in depth written education I strive to provide reflects that.

If you haven’t worked with me yet, consider this email a taste of what I’m trying to deliver to my patients who are seeking more than just the “typical” dermatology experience that has become so common all across the U.S.

***If you don’t want to see anymore emails like this, I respect that. Simply scroll to the bottom and smash the unsubscribe button, or reply and tell me to do it for you. I like smashing things.

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Why I’m sending this now…

Two things are changing in less than 36 hours when the calendar flips to 2026…

1. A 10% holiday discount code I have for Ortho Molecular Products — my all time favorite supplement manufacturer — expires on 12/31/2025. I’ll be delighted to pass this discount on to you if you let me know what you’d like in time for me to include it with my final order of the year.
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   If you have any questions or would like me to order something for you, just reply to this email or text me at 715-391-9774. As long as I know what you want before 9:00pm CT tomorrow (Wednesday, 12/31), I’ll include it with my next order and you’ll be able to get the discount.
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   You’ll learn about a few of my favorites from Ortho Molecular Products along with the discounted prices in this email, but I’ll be happy to take 10% off my regular prices for anything in their catalog — not just the products mentioned below — in case you have favorites you want to stock up on or if you find something that catches your eye when browsing their website.
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   ​Ortho Molecular Products is a brand available exclusively from healthcare professionals, meaning you won’t find these on Amazon or at big-box stores. They’re top notch with respect to quality control, third party testing, efficacy, and formulation, and their headquarters is in Stevens Point, WI!
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   There’s a lot of noise in this industry, and Ortho Molecular Products helps me fight through it without ignoring it completely. I’ll be placing an order for myself no matter what, but I’ll wait as long as possible so you have a chance to save some money, too.
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2. ​Pendulum — the maker of my favorite probiotic blend — is increasing at least some of their prices in 2026. Orders that I’m able to place before the end of 2025 will reflect their current pricing, which means savings for you compared to the upcoming 2026 prices. Just let me know before 9:00pm CT tomorrow (Wednesday, 12/31) so I can include it with my final order of the year.

No fake countdowns. No gimmicks. Just real deadlines that allow you (and me — I personally use these brands) to save some hard earned money, especially if you have health spending account money that needs to be spent in 2025.

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A few highlights from Ortho Molecular Products​

For appetite regulation — Calocurb® CLINICAL (Starter Pack and Maintenance)

Calocurb^® CLINICAL supports appetite control by working with the body’s natural hormonal signals. It features Amarasate^® (derived from Latin, meaning “bitter satiation”), a clinically studied extract of New Zealand bitter hops, delivered in a delayed-release capsule designed to reach the small intestine where it activates bitter taste receptors.

This triggers the release of key satiety hormones including a little on you may have heard of called GLP-1 as well as CCK and PYY, which work together to reduce hunger, cravings, and caloric intake. Fast-acting and plant-based, Calocurb^® CLINICAL offers a targeted, science-driven approach to supporting healthy weight management.

If any of the following piques your interest, this could be a good support tool for you…

• Appetite and Food Craving Reduction
• Long-Term Weight Management Support
• Natural Stimulation of GLP-1, CCK and PYY Release
• Compatible with Pharmaceutical Weight Loss Strategies
• Enhanced Adherence to Intermittent Fasting and Time-Restricted Eating

Calocurb^® CLINICAL is a new kid on the block, but I’d be surprised if you wouldn’t be delighted to have some help with appetite regulation, especially if — like me — a NKOTB reference means something to you :)

I’m still learning about this tool, and I’ll be adding it to my daily regimen in 2026 so I can get some personal experience.

For anyone who isn’t already using Calocurb^® CLINICAL, I recommend starting with the Starter Pack (good thing I’m a doctor so I can help with things like that! ;) with a plan to transition to the Maintenance dose. The Starter Pack onboards your body to the increased activation of natural satiety hormones, which helps prepare you for the higher Maintenance doses.

Discounted Price: Both the Starter Pack and Maintenance are $107.99* (normally $119.99*) + tax for a 30 day supply for orders sent to me by 9:00pm CT on 12/31/2025.

*A brief note about pricing: I utilize a dual pricing system, which means there are two prices for all products and services. The prices you see listed in this email represent the lowest price for each item, which is available when paying by check or cash. I also offer the convenience of paying online via credit or debit card, including HSA cards, but the price when paying with any type of card is always 3% higher than the check/cash price regardless of what type of card it is.

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For your gut buddies… and your bum bum — Fiber MGP​

When people ask me what they can do to support their gut health, I often start with the lowest hanging fruit: more water, more fiber.

As you’ve likely heard, most Americans don’t get nearly enough fiber from their food. The USDA’s Adequate Intake recommendation for fiber is 14 g per 1,000 calories. Despite its importance to overall health, only ~5% of Americans meet these recommendations, making inadequate fiber intake a recognized public health concern.

Even if you’re in that 5%, a high quality and diverse daily supplement can function as insurance amidst inevitable daily fluctuations.

Adequate dietary fiber intake supports gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and metabolic health. Some examples of the digestive benefits of fiber include increased stool bulk, reduced transit time and increasing beneficial flora and microbial diversity. If you aren’t taking a 💩 that feels great at least once a day, it’s fiber time!

​Fiber MGP is a next-generation fiber supplement that contains a blend of 11 different fiber sources that…

• Supports Overall Metabolic and Digestive Health
• Increases Natural GLP-1 Production to Curb Appetite and Cravings — Consider pairing this with Calocurb!
• Promotes Microbiome Balance by Increasing Akkermansia and F. prausnitzii
• Provides Gentle Relief for Occasional Constipation and Diarrhea

I used to be a SunFiber guy, but Fiber MGP is now hands down my favorite fiber supplement. And now that I’m 41 years young, I’d be crazy not to have a favorite fiber supplement.

Discounted Price: $58.49* (normally $64.99*) + tax for a 30 day supply for orders sent to me by 9:00pm CT on 12/31/2025.

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For Immune Support — OrthoMune®​

​OrthoMune^® is a favorite in my house, especially during cold and flu season and periods of high stress and/or lots of travel. I used it for the first time all last fall and winter and was more impressed than I expected to be, especially now that I can compare it to my experience so far this year after getting I got lazy and didn’t order more when I ran out. Needless to say, I’ll finally be restocking with that 10% discount.

It’s a targeted blend of nutrients designed to provide broad-spectrum support for the body’s immune reserves. The formula includes…

Quercetin — Quercetin is best known for its antioxidant activity — it’s a legendary scavenger of harmful free radicals. It also helps balance cytokine levels and improve immune cell balance.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) — NAC is the precursor of the master antioxidant, glutathione. It has been shown to support mucus clearance and normal respiratory function through its ability to cleave those sticky disulfide bonds in mucus.

Immune Nutrition Base — This is a synergistic nutrient blend of zinc, vitamin C and vitamin D, each of which plays a major role in maintaining immune system reserves.

Discounted Price: $44.99* (normally $49.99*) + tax for a 60 day supply for orders sent to me by 9:00pm CT on 12/31/2025.

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For Seasonal Allergy Defense — Natural D-Hist® / D-Hist Jr.™​

The Natural D-Hist^® formula provides support for healthy, clear nasal and sinus passageways for people — like me, my kids, and many of my patients — who struggle with seasonal challenges caused by common environmental allergens. It can be an excellent alternative to conventional anti-histamines if you prefer to avoid those, and it’s a bit of cult classic among the Ortho Molecular Products OGs.

And they didn’t forget about the kids! D-Hist Jr.™ is a great-tasting, chewable tablet that includes the same blend of flavonoids, antioxidants, proteolytic enzymes and botanicals found in Natural D-Hist^® at doses that are generally considered to be more appropriate for children.

Both formulations include…

Quercetin — Quercetin has strong antioxidant activity and has been shown to support immune health by mediating the release of inflammatory compounds, including leukotrienes and prostaglandins. It’s known for its ability to stabilize mast cells, which diminishes the release of histamine, the compound that causes hypersensitivity reactions during seasonal changes.

Stinging Nettles Leaf — Urtica dioica, commonly known as stinging nettles, is a plant that has been shown to balance immune response, specifically in the airways and nasal passages. Stinging nettles leaf helps control mast-cell degranulation, prostaglandin formation and histamine action, all of which contribute to a balanced inflammatory response.

Bromelain — Bromelain is a plant enzyme naturally found on the stem and fruit of the pineapple plant. It aids in the breakdown of large protein complexes, including antigenic compounds, and has been shown to enhance the absorption of quercetin. It’s been shown to reduce circulating allergenic protein complexes associated with hyperimmune sensitivity and seasonal discomfort.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) — NAC is an amino acid precursor to one of the most important antioxidants in the body, glutathione. Both glutathione and NAC help reduce the mucus viscosity to maintain cleared airways and respiratory health.

Vitamin C — Our bodies can’t synthesize vitamin C. This makes it an essential nutrient that must be consumed in our diet. Vitamin C has many immune-boosting properties but is distinctively beneficial for people with seasonal discomfort because of its ability to deactivate histamine.

Price: $44.99* (normally $49.99*) + tax for a 60 day supply for orders sent to me by 9:00pm CT on 12/31/2025.

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A No Brainer for Most of Us — Vitamin D3 with K2​

As many of you likely know, vitamin D is most widely known as the sunshine vitamin because exposure to sunlight promotes production of vitamin D. Vitamin D plays an important role in supporting bone health, maintaining cardiovascular function and immune function, and promoting an overall sense of well-being.

If you’ve ever shopped for a vitamin D supplement, you’re not alone if you got at least a bit confused. Vitamin D is available in two different forms, D2 and D3. Vitamin D3 is the preferable form as it has been found to maintain vitamin D levels in the body for a longer period when compared to vitamin D2.

But don’t stop at just D2… a growing body of research is revealing the synergistic relationship between vitamin K (specifically, vitamin K2) and vitamin D3, especially with respect to bone strength and cardiovascular health.

A group of naturally occurring and structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K is essential for the proper utilization of calcium. Through its activation of the protein osteocalcin, vitamin K helps newly absorbed calcium bind to the mineral matrix in bone.

Vitamin K also helps maintain bone mineral density by decreasing the activity of osteoclasts, a cell that breaks down the bone matrix.

This formulation includes 10 mcg of MenaQ7® PRO, the most widely studied form of MK-7, which is a highly biovailable form of vitamin K2, along with 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 per serving. The tasteless liquid formula can be taken directly on the tongue (that’s what I do) or easily combined with any beverage.

Discounted Price: $35.99* (normally $39.99*) + tax for a 1200 daily 1 drop doses for orders sent to me by 9:00pm CT on 12/31/2025. Yes, that’s 1200, not 120. Even at the regular price, this one in particular is a heck of deal.

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My favorite product from Pendulum Pro (prices increasing in 2026)

​Pendulum is a big time innovator I’m learning from in the space of probiotics for gut and metabolic health.

Glucose Control Pro is my favorite of their probiotic blends. It contains a patented formula that’s clinically proven to help improve hemoglobin A1C and post-meal blood sugar spikes in the context of nutritional management of type 2 diabetes.

I don’t have type 2 diabetes. However, I do care about decreasing my risk of developing it and all the risks it entails, and I think Glucose Control Pro can help me do that.

Here’s a breakdown of the specific probiotic strains found in the Glucose Control Pro formula…

Akkermansia muciniphila

If you’ve heard of Akkermansia, it’s likely at least in part thanks to the remarkable work Pendulum has done harnessing this powerful but very difficult to manufacture strain.

Akkermansia muciniphila is a highly targeted live strain that can only be found in Pendulum products. It’s known for its importance in gut barrier function and can help with healthy weight management.

Clostridium butyricum

Naturally found in the human GI tract, this strain is named for its ability to ferment dietary (shout out Fiber MGP! 👆) to produce high amounts of the short-chain fatty acid, butyrate. Butyrate is a key energy source and signaling molecule involved in gut health, immunity, and even brain function.

Clostridium beijerinckii and Anaerobutyricum hallii

These two novel strains that — like Akkermansia muciniphila — are found only in Pendulum products further contribute to production of butyrate, which supports glucose control and nourishes the lining of the gut.

Bifidobacterium infantis

This strain breaks down a range of foods and produces the intermediate molecules that are used by the three butyrate-producing strains (teamwork!). It also helps maintain a healthy GI tract and alleviates common digestive issues.

State of the art delivery capsule

Glucose Control Pro is encased in a plant-based, acid-resistant, delayed release capsule designed to help the strains get through the stomach acid and to the home of your gut microbiome where they can do their job.

Additionally, the healthcare provider exclusive Pro version comes in premium dessicant-lined packaging to ensure maximum viability and has a two year shelf life compared to the one year shelf life of the standard retail version, which makes it ideal for stocking up ahead of price increases, especially if you have health spending account money you need to spend before the end of the year.

​Pendulum is increasing the prices on their Pro products in 2026. If you’re interested and want to get the 2025 price before it’s gone, simply let me know before the end of the year so I can add it to my order.

Discounted Price: Starting on January 1, 2026, a 30 day supply of Glucose Control Pro will be a minimum of $139.99 + tax. Order requests sent to me by 9:00pm CT on 12/31/2025 will quality for the limited time lower price of $129.99 + tax*.

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Three “Just Start Here” Kits

If a long list makes your eyes glaze over or you struggle with decision fatigue like I do, consider one of these simple combinations for a “starter kit” that feels right to you.

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🛡️ IMMUNE & RESILIENCE KIT

Best for: frequent illness, stress, travel, seasonal transitions, “I feel run down”

Components: OrthoMune, Vitamin D with K2, Fiber MGP

Why this works: This kit quietly supports immune signaling, nutrient sufficiency, and gut integrity — three things that almost always travel together.

• OrthoMune = frontline immune support
• Vitamin D3/K2 = baseline immune health + bone/cardiovascular health
• Fiber MGP = feeds the gut-immune axis

If I could only recommend one “foundation” stack for most adults, this would be it. Nothing fancy. It just covers the basics really well at a relatively low risk and cost.

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🌿 ALLERGY & HISTAMINE RELIEF KIT

Best for: seasonal allergies, histamine-driven skin flares, kids with allergy symptoms

Components: Natural D-Hist (or D-Hist Jr for kids), Vitamin D3 with K2, Fiber MGP Powder

Why this works: This kit hits histamine from multiple angles and is great for people who prefer to avoid conventional anti-histamines such as Benadryl, Zyrtec, Xyzal, Claritin, and Allegra.

• D-Hist = mast cell modulation
• Vitamin D = immune balance
• Fiber MGP = Gut health-driven histamine regulation and defense against the dreaded “leaky gut”

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🔥 METABOLIC RESET KIT

Best for: craving and blood sugar control, weight-loss support, foundational gut health

Includes: Calocurb Clinical (Starter → Maintenance), Fiber MGP, Glucose Control Pro

Why this works: This kit supports appetite signaling, glucose control, and gut-mediated metabolism without jumping straight to prescription medications. It can also help if you’re trying to decrease or discontinue your dose of weight loss medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide.

• Calocurb Clinical = appetite + craving modulation
• Fiber MGP = microbiome support
• Pendulum Pro = targeted probiotics for metabolic health

This is the most “modern” bundle. It reflects the cutting edge of what we’re learning about metabolism, gut health, and why willpower alone simply isn’t enough for many people.

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Bottom line

​Ortho Molecular Products order requests must be communicated to me by 9:00pm CT tomorrow (12/31/25) to qualify for the 10% discount because the discount code I have expires at year end.

​Pendulum Pro products such as Glucose Control Pro will cost more in 2026. I’ll include your request in my final order of the year if you get it to me by 9:00pm CT tomorrow (12/31/25).

If you have a question or would like to get in on this offer, simply reply to this email or text me at 715-391-9774 by 9:00pm CT on New Year’s Eve.

If you’re on the fence, I suggest waiting. But if you’re really excited about one or more of the things you learned in this email, then acting quickly will save you some dough.

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*Another brief note about pricing: As already mentioned, I utilize a dual pricing system, which means there are two prices for all products and services. The prices you see listed in this email represent the lowest price for each item, which is available when paying by check or cash. I also offer the convenience of paying online via credit or debit card, including HSA cards, but the price when paying with any type of card is always 3% higher than the check/cash price regardless of what type of card it is.

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A few important things to keep in mind…

• This is for educational and information purposes only and is not a substitute for formal medical advice. I’d be happy to help in that way, but we would first need to establish a formal physician-patient relationship if we don’t already have one.
• It’s best to speak with your primary care practitioner before starting any new supplements.
• Supplements work best when they’re targeted and deployed rationally and intentionally — not stacked blindly based on hype and FOMO.

I’d much rather you find one new thing (or nothing at all) that works well for your current state of health and goals than blindly buy everything just because I happen to be excited about them and offering a fleeting discount.

If you know anyone else who may enjoy or benefit from this information, please feel free to share this note with them. Talk soon, Stephen P.S. — My integrative dermatology practice, Above & Beyond Dermatology, is OPEN for virtual AND in-person visits (house calls, too!) to residents of Wisconsin and virtual visits for residents of Illinois and Nebraska. If you or someone you know lives in one of these states and is looking for a dermatologist, simply email me at drlewellis@aboveandbeyondderm.com, text me at 715-391-9774, or fill out this short form. ​ I know cost is often a concern when it comes to healthcare, so I'm always happy to give you a no obligation, good faith estimate based on what you're looking for help with. ​​​​​​ ​ ​

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