Why we left these 5 trendy ingredients out of HOP Box

In the supplement world, saying "no" is harder than saying "yes."

Every ingredient we consider gets the same treatment: does the human research support it? At what dose? For what outcome? Is there a better alternative?

Sometimes the answer is "not yet." Sometimes it's "not at this dose." And sometimes it's "there's something better."

Here are five popular longevity ingredients you WON'T find in HOP Box…and the science behind why.

Resveratrol: the overpromised darling

Resveratrol had its moment. The red wine antioxidant was supposed to activate sirtuins (longevity genes) and extend lifespan. The problem? Most of those exciting results came from yeast, worms, and mice - not humans.

In humans, resveratrol has terrible bioavailability. Your body breaks it down quickly, and very little reaches circulation. To get the doses used in animal studies, you'd need to take grams of resveratrol daily, far more than what's practical or proven safe long-term.

Recent human trials have been... underwhelming. Some show modest benefits for specific populations (like improved insulin sensitivity in people with metabolic syndrome), but nothing approaching the anti-aging miracle it was marketed as.

Our take: The sirtuin-activating story is compelling in theory but hasn't translated to robust human evidence at reasonable doses. We'd rather invest in ingredients with clearer human data.

NMN: the precursor we skipped

Wait - doesn't HOP Box contain NR (nicotinamide riboside), which is also an NAD+ precursor? Yes. So why NR instead of NMN?

NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) is one step closer to NAD+ than NR, which sounds better. But here's the catch: NMN molecules are too large to enter cells directly. They likely get converted to NR outside the cell, then converted back to NMN inside the cell before becoming NAD+.

NR, on the other hand, has more published human clinical trials showing it effectively raises NAD+ levels. It's also more stable and has a longer track record of safety data.

Our take: NMN might work (it probably does), but NR has stronger human evidence and better stability. We go with what's proven.

Collagen: the skin “solution” that doesn’t hold up

Collagen supplements are everywhere, promising younger-looking skin, stronger joints, and better hair. The reality is more complicated.

When you eat collagen (a protein), your digestive system breaks it down into amino acids - the same amino acids you'd get from eating chicken, fish, or any other protein. There's no guarantee those amino acids get reassembled into collagen in your skin, let alone deposited where you want them.

Some studies show modest improvements in skin hydration or elasticity, but many are industry-funded and small. The effects, when present, are subtle.

Our take: Your body makes collagen from amino acids, vitamin C, and other cofactors. We'd rather support your body's own collagen production with ingredients like hyaluronic acid (which helps retain moisture in the skin) and antioxidants that help protect existing collagen from damage. Get your protein from food.

Ashwagandha: the adaptogen with an asterisk

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, meaning it supposedly helps your body handle stress. Some human studies show it can reduce cortisol levels and improve stress markers, particularly in people with chronic stress or anxiety.

So, why not include it? Two reasons.

First, the effects are most pronounced in people with elevated stress and elevated cortisol levels. For people with normal stress levels, the benefits are less clear.

Second, ashwagandha can interact with thyroid function and immune modulation in ways that aren't appropriate for everyone. Some people experience digestive upset or drowsiness. It's not a "one-size-fits-all" ingredient.

Our take: Ashwagandha can be helpful for specific people in specific situations, but it's not a universal longevity tool. We focus on ingredients with broader applicability and clearer safety profiles across diverse populations.

Calcium: more isn’t always better

Most American women get adequate calcium from their diet. The issue isn't intake, it's where the calcium ends up.

Supplementing with calcium (especially without adequate vitamin K2) can lead to calcium deposition in soft tissues, such as arteries, rather than bones. That's the opposite of what we want.

That's why HOP Box includes vitamin D3 and K2-MK7. They direct calcium to your bones and away from your blood vessels. But we don't add extra calcium.

Our take: Calcium supplementation has fallen out of favor in the research. The key is directing the calcium you're already getting from food to the right places. That's what D3 and K2 do.

The bottom line

Leaving ingredients out is just as important as putting them in.

We're not interested in chasing trends or adding ingredients just because they're popular. That means saying "no" a lot, even to ingredients we personally like or find interesting.

Because at the end of the day, you're not taking HOP Box to follow trends. You're taking it because it works.