STABILITY WHEN IT MATTERS MOST

Cycle-aware support for female athletes.

Anchor for You is a cycle-specific micronutrient decision engine that translates cycle timing, training volume, and symptoms into phase-aligned recommendations.

Menstrual phase icon Follicular phase icon Ovulatory phase icon Luteal phase icon

What is Anchor?

A structured, phase-aware approach that adapts your supplement plan using cycle phase, training volume, and symptom inputs so support stays aligned across the month.

Phase-aligned Follicular • Ovulatory • Luteal • Menstrual
Evidence-informed Logic organized around sports nutrition research
Subscription Monthly cadence for consistent access
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Why cycle-aware support matters

  • Follicular phase (reset + rebuild): Often framed as a “reset” after bleeding, but many athletes start this phase micronutrient-depleted from blood loss and inflammatory stress. Performance may rebound only when those deficits are addressed.
  • Ovulatory phase (peak potential): Commonly associated with maximum strength. Higher estrogen can support stronger muscle contraction, and a “good week” can mask nutrition gaps that show up later.
  • Luteal phase (highest strain): Frequently felt as the most physically demanding window; progesterone rises, metabolic strain increases, and the body may rely more on fat oxidation.
  • Menstrual phase (loss + load): Can bring iron loss, micronutrient depletion, and inflammatory/oxidative stress, impacting thermoregulation, metabolism, neuromuscular function, fluid balance, sleep, pain perception, and fatigue.

A phase-aware framework supports stable planning across changing physiological conditions.

Supplement Information

Evidence-backed micronutrient overview for female athletes. Tap the category ovals to view background sources.

Folate

Folate is vital for red blood cell production, hormonal balance, and energy metabolism, all crucial for endurance and recovery. During menstruation, folic acid is especially important for those with low energy intake or heavier cycles, helping maintain steady energy and overall well-being.

Iron

Iron is essential for carrying oxygen to muscles, which directly affects endurance and VO₂ max. When levels drop, fatigue sets in, and performance suffers. Female endurance athletes are especially at risk because of menstrual blood and sweat loss.

Magnesium

Magnesium supports neuromuscular signaling, muscle relaxation, and stress regulation. It helps muscles contract efficiently, supports the nervous system, and can reduce cramping. Because it’s lost through sweat, athletes with high training loads often have lower levels and may benefit from mindful intake.

Calcium

Calcium is essential for maintaining strong bones and preventing stress fractures, making it especially important for female athletes. It supports bone integrity under heavy training loads and is vital for proper muscle contraction. Adequate calcium, paired with sufficient vitamin D, is critical for long-term bone health and performance.

Zinc

Zinc plays an important role during the menstrual cycle, helping regulate hormones and ease PMS symptoms such as cramps or mood changes. Zinc is essential for immune health, protein synthesis, and recovery, key for female athletes training hard or traveling frequently.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption, bone strength, and immune health. Adequate levels support bone integrity, may enhance muscle power, and help regulate immune responses. For women, vitamin D is key in preventing stress fractures and supporting bone density, particularly when menstrual irregularities are present.

Packaging

Clean, athlete-first packaging choices. Designed for safety, transparency, and stability.

Primary pouch material

Biodegradable “plastic-esque” film

We use a biodegradable film for efficient single-serve packaging, then fold and store pouches inside cardboard boxes for structure and protection.

Brand: NatureFlex Cellulose Films (Futamura)

  • Cellulose films (wood-pulp derived) that are industrially and home compostable.
  • Made for single-serve pouches (easy-tear properties).
  • Highly transparent: makes it easy to spot any issues and reinforces transparency as a company.
  • Strong barrier against oxygen/moisture: crucial for nutrients like folate.
  • High-gloss finish similar to PET plastic; heat sealable for reliable pouches.

Why we care

BY female athletes, FOR female athletes

Public trust in women’s health products has been challenged by ongoing concerns about contaminants and hidden risks in certain categories. Anchor is designed with a “clean by design” mindset, down to the packaging.

What this means in practice

  • Packaging that supports ingredient stability (oxygen + moisture barriers).
  • Clear visibility so the athlete can verify what they’re taking.
  • Compostable film + cardboard storage to reduce waste while maintaining structure.

Capsule material

Vegetable capsules (non-gelatin)

We choose plant-based capsules to avoid animal-derived materials and better accommodate dietary restrictions (including halal).

Why vegetable capsules

  • Plant-based and hypoallergenic (designed to reduce exposure to common triggers like gluten/animal proteins).
  • Menstrual cycles can increase sensitivity; a simpler capsule material can be easier to tolerate.
  • Gelatin can be less stable across temperature swings.
  • Better stability for some plant-based nutrients and athlete travel/training conditions.
  • Accommodates dietary and religious restrictions, such as animal proteins or halal considerations.

Capsule tech

Pullulan & Delayed-release HPMC

Anchor Performance + Elite

Two capsule-shell options designed to improve stability and athlete comfort.

Pullulan capsules

  • 100% biodegradable plant-based capsule shells.
  • Offers one of the strongest oxygen barriers among plant-based shells, critical for protecting folate from oxidation.

Delayed-release HPMC capsules

  • Built for athletes with sensitive stomachs: designed to bypass the stomach and dissolve in the small intestine.
  • Can improve absorption of minerals like iron or magnesium while helping reduce nausea.

Packaging walkthrough

See it in action

A quick demo showing how Anchor’s packaging is structured for stability, transparency, and athlete-first usability.

Let’s Get Started

Select what best describes you. We’ll generate a phase-aligned stack based on cycle timing, training hours, training intensity, and symptoms.

Cycle Regularity
Primary Sport
Weekly Training Hours
Training Intensity
Current Cycle Phase
Symptoms (select as many as needed)

Results

Submit your intake to generate a phase-aligned plan.

Subscription Tier / Plan

Choose the cadence and level of personalization you want.
30 capsules per monthly package

Not sure which tier to get?

Complete the Get Started form to receive a recommendation based on your results.

    Update my responses

    Anchor Core

    $32.99/mo

    • Recreational / <5 hrs/week
    • Basic symptom tracking
    • Phase-aligned foundation stack
    • Basic micronutrients

    Anchor Elite

    $49.99/mo

    • Elite / >10 hrs/week
    • Advanced personalization + higher-frequency adjustments
    • Strava + Apple Health integration
    • 1 week turn-around
    • Delayed-release capsules

    Credits

    Research foundation, manufacturing standards, advisors, and reference sources that informed Anchor’s build.

    Leadership Team

    Founders

    Anchor for You was established by three students driven to close the data gap in women's sports nutrition.

    C

    Chloe Jang

    A

    Anushka Nag

    C

    Candace Luo

    Our local manufacturer

    F.A.M.E Health Labs Facility

    Facility page: https://www.famehealthlabs.com/facility

    Women-owned laboratory GMP Certification FDA-Registered Facility NSF Certified for Sport

    Webmaster / Programmer

    Designed and Developed by Mason Cao

    • Site architecture, full-stack engineering, front-end build (HTML/CSS/JS), rules-engine logic, UI/UX, deployment & maintenance

    Researchers

    Key researchers & institutes referenced

    • Alannah K.A. McKay, PhD
    • Marc Sim, PhD
    • Peter Peeling, PhD
    • Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI)

    School advisors

    Lambert High School

    • Tracy Floyd
    • Dr. Josh Bush

    NFHS Learn certification: https://nfhslearn.com/

    Sources & articles

    • Fleet Feet — Nutrition, Training, and Performance for the Menstruating Female Athlete
    • GSSI — Micronutrient Considerations for the Female Athlete
    • Sim, M. et al. (2014). Iron considerations for the athlete: a narrative review.
    • McClung, J.P. et al. (2014). Iron status and athletic performance.
    • Mountjoy, M. et al. (2014). The IOC consensus statement: beyond the Female Athlete Triad—Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
    • Harvey, J.A. et al. (1988). Calcium absorption efficiency and dose spacing.
    • Kinuta, K. et al. (2000). Vitamin D regulates estrogen biosynthesis.
    • Shahrokhi, S. et al. (2016). Vitamin D and reproductive health.
    • Philpott, J.D. et al. (2018). Omega-3 fatty acids and exercise recovery.
    • De Souza, M.C. et al. (2000). Magnesium and PMS symptoms.
    • Volpe, S.L. (2015). Micronutrients in sport performance.
    • Lukaski, H.C. (2004). Zinc and exercise performance.
    • Institute of Medicine (2001). Dietary Reference Intakes for Folate.
    • Sims, S.T., & Heather, A.K. (2018). Myths and methodology: women and exercise.
    • McNulty, K.L. et al. (2020). The menstrual cycle and sport performance: systematic review.
    • Elliott-Sale, K.J. et al. (2021). Methodological considerations in menstrual cycle research in sport.