2025 Health Industry Heroes

Each year, we proudly dedicate space in our almanac to celebrate the brands, products, and trailblazing individuals that inspire us most. Each month, we shine a spotlight on more than just our favorites, but what we consider true heroes of the natural product and health industry.

We love to highlight companies, people, and products that align with our values and mission, sharing a dedication to wellness, sustainability, and empowering individuals to lead healthier lives. By shining a light on them, we aim to foster community and collaboration within the natural health world.

At the heart of it all, we believe in the power of authentic word-of-mouth recommendations and the joy of sharing trusted favorites with those who matter most—our customers and community. It’s our way of helping to build a stronger, healthier community—together. 

Here are our picks for 2025:

From:	Brand:	Why We Love Them:
Allison	Wishgarden Herbs	Last year, while struggling with ongoing seasonal issues, I discovered a wonderful formula from Wishgarden Herbs. It is a liquid, which is great because they have a much quicker absorption rate and start to work faster. I have ordered a few different products from this company and have experienced success with them all, but my favorite is Kick-Ass Allergy Seasonal Rescue. This product, combined with our SinusClear®, really helped me.
Nichole	Harmonic Innerprizes	I was introduced to this brand when I managed a health food store and witnessed its positive impact on many customers, myself included. They sell monatomic elements (ORMES), which are based on the research of electromagnetics and how they impact the human body. They have products that are great for focus, heart health, emotional wellness, and overall well-being.
Birdy	Lakota Made	Lakota Made is an Indigenous Traditional Herbalism company in Minnesota selling excellent products like skincare balms/oils, hair and body bar soaps, tinctures, teas, bundles, and more. I grabbed their acne bundle as my baby loves touching my face with her sticky fingers! They have quickly replaced most of my store-bought brands. They are well made, ethically/locally sourced, support Indigenous families, and are woman-owned. They even offer in-store recycling of their containers.
Aspen	Kodiak Cakes	I love Kodiak Cakes because my son has always struggled to gain weight. He has PDA, ADHD, and sensory issues around food. One of the only foods he will eat is pancakes, and because of the extra protein in Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes, I've been able to use pancakes to help him grow. Plus, it's a local company, with a positive work culture, just like RidgeCrest!
Mitzy	Don Manuel Lincovil	Don Manuel Lincovil, a healer from Southern Chile's Indigenous Mapuche community, uses traditional methods to diagnose and treat illness. He was a healer, or Machi. He would begin his medical assessments by examining his patient's urine. By observing the liquid settle, he gained insights into their health, determining if the pain had a physical cause, was from emotional problems, or was from a supernatural source. He would instruct Mapuche women to prepare personalized herbal remedies using over 150 plants, roots, and bark. Each concoction was unique to the patient's needs. Don Manuel practices in Santiago, far from his southern roots, but his approach is gaining recognition. In fact, Mapuche natural medicine is being incorporated into Chile's healthcare system to better support Indigenous tribes.
Amanda	Xlear Nasal Spray	With five school-aged kids, staying healthy can feel like a constant battle. Xlear's organic saline nasal spray is a game changer, making it a lot easier to keep everyone healthy! It uses natural ingredients like xylitol to keep the nasal passages clear and support the immune system. It's a simple, effective way to help protect my family, and it genuinely keeps us healthy during the challenging school months.
Aspen	The Honest Kitchen	I feed my cats a whole-food, mostly raw diet. A fully raw diet can be expensive, so I supplement it with a whole-food dehydrated brand called The Honest Kitchen. The Honest Kitchen offers dehydrated and whole-food kibble cat and dog food in various flavors and grain-free options. Their products are made with human-grade ingredients and are free from fillers, byproducts, and artificial ingredients. My 24-year-old cat can testify to the health-promoting benefits of their food!
Brittini	Deerland Probiotics	ADM, formerly Deerland Probiotics and Enzymes, is a leading provider of science-backed solutions for digestive wellness. ADM has always been ahead of the game regarding microbiome health. They are committed to quality and efficacy, utilize cutting-edge technology, and are dedicated to supporting overall health and vitality. For this reason, RidgeCrest Herbals, Inc. partnered with them on sourcing/manufacturing for our new probiotic line. From a formulator and consumer perspective, their products have been exceptional!
Chris	Peter Attia	Peter Attia is a leading figure in the health industry, renowned for his expertise in longevity, nutrition, and human performance. As a physician, he has dedicated his career to optimizing health and lifespan, challenging conventional wisdom. Through his podcast, "The Peter Attia Drive," and his work at Attia Medical, he educates and inspires audiences worldwide, empowering them to take control of their health and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Will	Tu Youyou	Tu Youyou, born in China in December 1930, valued lifelong learning, a trait instilled by her education-focused family. She overcame tuberculosis in 1945 and recognized the importance of combining Western and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Her dedication to this integration led to her most significant achievement: the discovery of artemisinin, a compound from sweet wormwood, which earned her the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This breakthrough has saved millions of lives globally, marking a monumental contribution of China to world health by blending traditional insights with scientific innovation.
Shae	Attitude	I discovered Attitude when I was looking for a fabric softener that didn’t have “fragrance” as an ingredient. They raise the bar when it comes to products, and they have a great mission, “Raising the standard with the best home & beauty care products for all. High-performance, clean ingredients, less plastic, more trees.” They have so many great products to choose from!
Matt	Linus Pauling	One of my health heroes is Linus Pauling. He’s the only person to have earned two unshared Nobel Prizes. He won the first prize in chemistry in 1954 by describing chemical bonding through quantum mechanics. He later campaigned against nuclear weapons and spearheaded a petition to ban nuclear testing, earning the Peace Prize in 1962. He helped describe DNA, and his work on vitamins, especially Vitamin C, helped create today’s supplement industry.