US Vitamin and Supplement Forwarding Guide
NOW Foods / Garden of Life / Pure Encapsulations / Thorne + iHerb Code Guide 2026
How to buy NOW Foods, Garden of Life Sport, Pure Encapsulations, Thorne Research, Doctors Best, Solgar, Country Life, Jarrow Formulas, California Gold Nutrition, Vitamin D 5000 IU, Omega-3 fish oil, probiotics, lutein, collagen, protein powder, B complex, magnesium, zinc, and Vitamin C from iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon US, and Pure Formulas, then ship through HowBridge.
NOW Foods
Garden of Life
Thorne
iHerb codes
LA warehouse
The US supplement industry is the world's largest, with a market worth about USD 58 billion in 2024. NOW Foods, Garden of Life, Pure Encapsulations, Thorne, Doctors Best, Solgar, Country Life, and Jarrow Formulas are frequently discussed by Taiwan supplement buyers, while iHerb is the largest global supplement e-commerce platform with a Chinese interface and referral discounts of 5-15%. Buying through iHerb or Vitacost and consolidating at HowBridge's US LA warehouse can save NT$2,500-15,000 per order: NOW Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count at USD 12 (NT$378) versus NT$680 in Taiwan, Garden of Life Vitamin Code Multivitamin 240-count at USD 35 (NT$1,103) versus NT$2,580, Pure Encapsulations B-Complex 120-count at USD 45 (NT$1,418) versus NT$3,200, and Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day at USD 28 (NT$882) versus NT$2,200. This guide covers 8 major brands, iHerb discount codes, TFDA import rules, and sea freight planning.
Supplements are not medicine - Vitamins, probiotics, fish oil, lutein, collagen, and similar dietary supplements are not prescription drugs or OTC medicine. Prescription drugs and many controlled or traditional-medicine ingredients cannot be imported personally. Use supplements responsibly and seek professional health advice when needed.
Contents
1. 8 Major Supplement Brands
| Brand | Positioning | Founded | Typical product | iHerb price | Taiwan official price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods | Affordable mainstream | 1968 | Vitamin D3 5000 IU | USD 12 | NT$680 |
| Garden of Life | Organic + sports | 2000 | Vitamin Code Multivitamin | USD 35 | NT$2,580 |
| Pure Encapsulations | Professional hypoallergenic | 1991 | B-Complex 120-count | USD 45 | NT$3,200 |
| Thorne Research | NSF athlete-certified positioning | 1984 | Basic Nutrients 2/Day | USD 28 | NT$2,200 |
| Doctors Best | Enhanced formulas | 1990 | Glucosamine Chondroitin | USD 35 | NT$2,800 |
| Solgar | Premium legacy brand | 1947 | Vitamin C 1000mg | USD 25 | NT$1,580 |
| Jarrow Formulas | Research-focused | 1977 | Curcumin 95 | USD 30 | NT$1,800 |
| California Gold Nutrition | iHerb private label | 2014 | Omega-3 Fish Oil | USD 11 | No official import |
Buying Recommendations
- Budget and general household use - NOW Foods or California Gold Nutrition
- Ingredient focus and sports users - Garden of Life Sport
- Allergy-sensitive users - Pure Encapsulations
- Athlete-tested positioning - Thorne Research
- Enhanced formulas for joints or cardiovascular support - Doctors Best
- Premium legacy brand preference - Solgar
2. iHerb Discount Code Guide
iHerb is a major global supplement retailer with a Chinese interface and discount codes that can reduce orders by 5-15%:
Common Codes
- BIG10 / NEW10 - 10% off the first order for new customers, subject to iHerb terms
- RUR0125 / OWN5 - 5% off for returning customers, subject to current terms
- iHerb Rewards - earn about 5% rewards credit for future orders
- Subscribe & Save - subscription discount around 5% with automatic delivery
Free Shipping Conditions
- Orders above USD 60 may qualify for free shipping to HowBridge's US LA warehouse under current iHerb US policy.
- US domestic free-shipping thresholds can be lower, often around USD 20 depending on promotion.
- Large purchases above USD 150 may trigger extra discounts when available.
Sale Timing
- iHerb Anniversary Sale (August) - sitewide 25-30% off promotions
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday (November) - sitewide 20-30% promotions
- Christmas / New Year sales (December-January) - selected brands around 25% off
- Brand Spotlight - rotating monthly brand discounts such as NOW, Garden of Life, and Doctors Best
California Gold Nutrition is iHerb's private label - Launched by iHerb in 2014, it is often priced 20-30% below comparable mainstream brands. California Gold Nutrition Omega-3 Fish Oil 200-count at about USD 11 (NT$346) can be around 30% cheaper than comparable NOW Omega-3 options.
3. Top 10 Supplement Picks
- NOW Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count - USD 12 (NT$378), a common vitamin D choice
- NOW Omega-3 Fish Oil 1000mg 200-count - USD 16 (NT$504), fish oil supplement
- Garden of Life Vitamin Code Multivitamin Women / Men 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103), multivitamin
- Doctors Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103), joint-support supplement
- NOW Magnesium Citrate 240-count - USD 14 (NT$441), magnesium supplement
- Garden of Life Primal Defense Probiotics 90-count - USD 28 (NT$882), probiotic supplement
- Solgar Vitamin C 1000mg 250-count - USD 25 (NT$788), vitamin C supplement
- NOW Lutein 20mg 60-count - USD 22 (NT$693), lutein supplement
- Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day 60-count - USD 28 (NT$882), travel-friendly multivitamin
- NeoCell Super Collagen + C 250 tablets - USD 22 (NT$693), collagen plus vitamin C
4. Fish Oil and Probiotics
Omega-3 Fish Oil
- NOW Omega-3 1000mg - USD 16 / 200 softgels, EPA 180mg + DHA 120mg, affordable first choice
- Carlson Norwegian Fish Oil - USD 35 / 250ml liquid, Norwegian anchovy source and higher purity positioning
- Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 2x - USD 45 / 60 softgels, EPA + DHA 1280mg, higher-dose option
- Garden of Life Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil - USD 30 / 60 softgels, organic-positioned antioxidant blend
Room-Temperature Probiotics
- Garden of Life Primal Defense 90-count - USD 28, 8 strains and 5 billion CFU
- NOW 8 Billion Acidophilus & Bifidus - USD 14 / 60-count, entry option
- Renew Life Ultimate Flora 50 Billion - USD 30 / 30-count, higher-dose option
- Jarrow Saccharomyces Boulardii - USD 18 / 90-count, travel-use probiotic option
Refrigerated Probiotics: Do Not Use Sea Freight
- Florastor (S. boulardii) - refrigerated versions should use EMS air with cold-chain handling where available.
- Culturelle Kids Probiotics - refrigerated versions should ship by air, usually around NT$880-1,200.
5. TFDA and Import Tax
For personal-use dietary supplements under HS 2106 / 3004, parcels with CIF up to NT$3,000 and single-item weight up to 6 kg are generally simpler under TFDA personal import practice.
| Item | HS Code | Duty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamins / minerals / probiotics | 2106 | 0% | 5% |
| Protein powder / high-protein products | 2106 | 5% | 10% |
| Prescription drugs | 3004 | - | Prohibited for personal import without proper approval |
| Traditional medicine ingredients | - | - | Strictly controlled |
Low-Tax Range
- Single parcel CIF up to NT$2,000 is generally below the duty and VAT collection threshold.
- Keep each product type under 6 kg.
- A practical personal parcel is often 5-10 bottles with total value around NT$3,000 or less.
Prohibited or High-Risk Items
- Prescription drugs
- Supplements containing traditional medicine ingredients such as ginseng, reishi, or some high-dose curcumin products
- CBD / THC cannabis-related products
- Controlled ingredients such as DHEA or certain high-dose melatonin products
6. Store Ranking
- iHerb (iherb.com) - the largest supplement e-commerce platform, Chinese interface, discount codes, and free shipping to HowBridge LA warehouse above qualifying thresholds
- Vitacost (vitacost.com) - major US supplement retailer with some exclusive brands and Black Friday discounts around 25-35%
- Pure Formulas (pureformulas.com) - strong source for Pure Encapsulations and practitioner-style brands
- Amazon US - Subscribe & Save 5-15%
- NOW Foods official site - direct store with occasional exclusive bundles
- Garden of Life official site - Sport series and selected organic products
- Thorne official site - professional and athlete-focused positioning
- Walmart - mainstream brands such as NOW and 21st Century
7. HowBridge LA Warehouse Sea Freight
| Product / weight | LA sea freight | LA EMS air | Transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single vitamin bottle (0.3 kg) | NT$120 | NT$320 | Sea freight 28-35 days |
| Fish oil 200-count (0.5 kg) | NT$180 | NT$420 | Air freight 7-10 days |
| Protein powder 5lb (2.5 kg) | NT$520 | NT$1,200 | - |
| Room-temperature probiotics (0.4 kg) | NT$150 | NT$380 | - |
| Refrigerated probiotics | Not suitable for sea freight | NT$880-1,200 | 5-7 days |
| 10-bottle consolidated parcel (3 kg) | NT$580 | NT$1,500 | - |
5-Layer Moisture-Control Packing
- Keep the original plastic bottle and sealed cap unopened.
- Add silica gel, usually 2-3 packs per carton.
- Wrap each bottle individually with bubble wrap.
- Fill voids with impact foam.
- Use a double-wall carton with "Vitamins + Fragile" labeling.
HowBridge's historical supplement channel has handled about 4,580 parcels, with a reported breakage rate around 0.3% and 0% spoilage for room-temperature goods.
8. FAQ
How do iHerb discount codes work for new customers?
iHerb is a major global supplement platform with a Chinese interface and multiple discount layers: (1) BIG10 / NEW10 are commonly used new-customer first-order codes for about 10% off, subject to current terms; (2) RUR0125 / OWN5 are commonly used returning-customer codes for about 5% off; (3) qualifying orders above USD 60 may ship free to HowBridge's US LA warehouse under current US shipping policy; (4) iHerb Rewards can return about 5% credit for future orders; (5) bulk orders above USD 150 may unlock extra discounts; (6) Black Friday and Cyber Monday often bring 20-30% sitewide promotions; (7) rotating brand events may discount NOW, Garden of Life, Doctors Best, and others by about 25%; (8) iHerb's California Gold Nutrition private label is often the lowest-price option. For a first order, combine a new-customer code, member rewards, and sale items where possible.
Which brand is best: NOW Foods, Garden of Life, or Pure Encapsulations?
The brands target different buyers. (1) NOW Foods, founded in 1968, is one of the largest affordable supplement brands in the US, with 1,000+ products and good value for general household use. NOW Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count is about USD 12 (NT$378) versus NT$680 in Taiwan. (2) Garden of Life focuses on organic and Non-GMO positioning, with its Sport line popular among active users; prices are usually mid to high at about USD 25-65. (3) Pure Encapsulations focuses on hypoallergenic, low-additive formulas, often USD 35-80 per bottle, and is a premium choice for sensitive users. (4) Thorne Research is known for NSF certification and athlete-focused positioning, with products around USD 30-90. (5) Doctors Best is strong for affordable enhanced formulas such as glucosamine and curcumin. Choose NOW for budget entry, Garden of Life Sport for active users, Pure Encapsulations for sensitivity, and Thorne for athlete-tested positioning.
How much cheaper are US supplements than Taiwan pricing?
US supplements can be 40-65% cheaper than Taiwan official pricing: (1) NOW Foods Vitamin D3 5000 IU 240-count - iHerb USD 12 (NT$378) versus NT$680, a 44% gap; (2) NOW Omega-3 Fish Oil 1000mg 200-count - USD 16 (NT$504) versus NT$1,180, a 57% gap; (3) Garden of Life Vitamin Code Multivitamin Women 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103) versus NT$2,580, a 57% gap; (4) Pure Encapsulations B-Complex 120-count - USD 45 (NT$1,418) versus NT$3,200, a 56% gap; (5) Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day 60-count - USD 28 (NT$882) versus NT$2,200, a 60% gap; (6) Doctors Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM 240-count - USD 35 (NT$1,103) versus NT$2,800, a 61% gap; (7) Solgar Vitamin C 1000mg 250-count - USD 25 (NT$788) versus NT$1,580, a 50% gap; (8) California Gold Nutrition can be another 20-30% cheaper than comparable NOW products. HowBridge US LA warehouse sea freight often costs around NT$120-280 per item.
Do supplements require TFDA food inspection?
For personal-use dietary supplements under HS 2106 / 3004, parcels with CIF up to NT$3,000 and each item type under 6 kg generally avoid formal food or drug import inspection in ordinary personal-use scenarios. Duty examples: (1) vitamins, minerals, and probiotics under HS 2106 are often 0% duty + 5% VAT = 5%; (2) protein powder under HS 2106 is often 5% duty + 5% VAT = 10%; (3) prescription drugs under HS 3004 are prohibited for personal import without proper prescription and approval; (4) traditional medicine or products containing traditional medicine ingredients are strictly controlled and may be prohibited. A practical personal parcel is 5-10 bottles with total value around NT$3,000 or less. Large commercial-looking shipments, such as NT$30,000+ or 50 kg, may require formal food import procedures, testing, and additional time and fees.
Will fish oil, probiotics, or lutein spoil during sea freight?
Most supplements are dry tablets, capsules, or softgels and are stable at room temperature for normal sea freight periods of 28-35 days. (1) Vitamin tablets and capsules usually have 24-36 months of shelf life and ship well when sealed. (2) Fish oil softgels usually have about 24 months of shelf life; sealed bottles tolerate ordinary container conditions. (3) Room-temperature probiotics such as Garden of Life Primal Defense and NOW 8 Billion are designed for shelf storage. (4) Refrigerated probiotics such as certain Florastor or Culturelle Kids versions should not use sea freight and should ship by EMS air with cold-chain handling where available. (5) Lutein and astaxanthin softgels are typically room-temperature products. (6) Unopened protein powder often has about 24 months of shelf life. (7) Collagen powder is also generally shelf-stable. HowBridge uses moisture-control packing and reports a bottle breakage rate around 0.3% for supplement parcels.
iHerb direct shipping vs HowBridge forwarding: which is better?
iHerb direct shipping and HowBridge forwarding fit different order types. (1) iHerb direct shipping to Taiwan can be fast, often 7-12 days by DHL, and is suitable for small orders around USD 60-150 when direct shipping is available. (2) HowBridge forwarding ships to the US LA warehouse first, then consolidates by sea freight for 28-35 days, making it better for larger orders above USD 150. (3) A USD 150+ consolidated order may cost around NT$680 by HowBridge sea freight for a 6-8 item set, compared with higher direct-shipping charges on some routes or item combinations. (4) Some brands, including certain Pure Encapsulations or Thorne products, may be limited to US domestic delivery and require a US warehouse address. (5) HowBridge can combine iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon US, and other stores into one shipment. Use iHerb direct for simple USD 60-150 orders; use HowBridge for USD 150+ orders, US-only products, or multi-store consolidation.
US Supplement LA Warehouse Consolidation
US LA warehouse consolidation, LCL sea freight from NT$120, iHerb / Vitacost / Pure Formulas multi-store receiving, moisture-control packing, US-only Pure Encapsulations / Thorne forwarding, and refrigerated probiotic air options.
Ask About US Supplement Forwarding