7 reasons women over 50 swear by this supplement system to stay healthy and recovered on every adventure
By Jess Barlow - Hiking Nutritionist & Food Scientist.
Head of Nutrition & Science at Optiventure
Updated July 2026. 4 min read
By Jess Barlow - Hiking Nutritionist
Updated July 2026. 5 min read
I’m a qualified nutritionist and food scientist. For close to a decade I’ve worked on one question: how to keep an active body properly fuelled and recovered on the big hiking adventures. It’s the reason I helped formulate Optiventure Core - a complete daily system of 30+ nutrients (a morning “Sunrise” and evening “Sunset”) and it’s what I now recommend to the women I work with who are over 50 and still chasing big adventures. Here are the seven things they tell me change the most.
They recover overnight - even the knees and hips that usually ache
The number-one thing I hear: the knees and hips that normally are in pain by day three simply behave. After 50 the body repairs slower and runs more inflamed - so recovery and inflammation control is something to take really seriously, which Optiventure is effective for.
What does it: The evening Sunset capsules pack Longvida® curcumin, tart cherry, omega-3 EPA & DHA, ginger, and chelated magnesium & zinc - to calm inflammation and speed up tissue repair while you sleep so you wake up recovered and pain free.
“I’m 50 with arthritis. But I just hiked 2,650 miles in 5 months and recovered every single morning. So convenient and effective.”
They feel energised on the long days - not wiped out
Steady, all-day energy without relying on multiple coffees and stimulants - a deeper, cellular kind of energy that shows up on the big ascents and the back-to-back days.
What does it: The morning Sunrise capsules use bioactive B-vitamins, iron bisglycinate, chromium picolinate and magnesium malate to turn all that food into usable fuel and carry more oxygen to working muscles all day long.
“I’m 55 with dodgy knees. I just did my first Via Ferrata after 10 days in the Dolomites and felt like superwoman. Thank you for bringing these to the market.”
They sleep well - even in a tent, hut or albergue bed
You can’t recover from a big day if didn’t sleep well through the night. New beds, thin tent walls, altitude and a racing mind wreck adventure sleep - and it’s usually the first thing my clients say improves.
What does it: Sunset pairs magnesium glycinate, apigenin, tart cherry and Sensoril® ashwagandha to lower evening cortisol and support deep, restorative sleep.
“I hiked 135km. No joint pain. I slept 8 hours every night in a tent and woke up fresh. I swear by these.”
Their gut handles the unfamiliar food
Nothing ends a trip faster than a stomach that turns on you where the food and water is different to your norm or can't be trusted. A settled, regular gut is one of the quiet superpowers of a well-prepared body.
What does it: The clinically studied adventure and travel probiotic S. boulardii plus ginger root extract, quercetin and selenium protect the whole digestive system on new diets and help you absorb more nutrients from every meal.
“I used this for 2 weeks before and during my Japan hiking trip to prepare my knees and gut. Steep stairs and endless Japanese food was no problem.”
They stay well when everyone else gets sick
You train for months and travel across the world - a flu on day two is heartbreaking. Long days, cold nights, crowded flights and campsites all tax the immune system exactly when you need it most.
What does it: Sunrise and Sunset load you up on vitamins C, D3 & A, zinc, selenium and quercetin phytomose to fortify your body’s natural defences.
“I finally ticked Antarctica off my bucket list. I managed to stay healthy while everyone else got sick. I won’t leave without these.”
They stay properly nourished - even on a poor adventure diet
The quiet truth of long-distance travel: the diet is rarely good. Freeze-dried dinners, café pastries, whatever the village shop has. It keeps you walking but leaves real gaps for an active body over 50.
What does it: 30+ foundational vitamins, minerals and antioxidants fill those nutritional gaps without adding bulk or weight to your pack.
“At 59 I just hiked 900km on the Camino and lived on sangria, beer and tortillas… and my body felt amazing. These are my secret.”
It’s one simple system that does all of the above
This is why it sticks. Instead of a dozen bottles, it’s three Sunrise capsules with breakfast and three Sunset with dinner — energy, recovery, sleep, gut, immunity and joints handled in one lightweight system that replaces 12+ separate supplements.
What does it: Sunrise (AM) + Sunset (PM) = 30+ premium nutrients, dosed for the specific demands of an active body on the move.
“At 55 I slept soundly, recovered quickly, and woke each morning ready to take on another day on my 34-day trip in Nepal. So glad I found these.”
Get The Optiventure Core System Here
What 50+ Adventurers Say...
I found Optiventure online a few weeks before leaving for Nepal to complete two major treks — the 10-day Manaslu Circuit followed by the Three Passes trek, with just 40 hours in between. Optiventure proved to be an incredible product. Over 34 days in Nepal, I had no gut issues, no muscle or joint pain, and never felt fatigued. Even at altitude, with low oxygen, I maintained strong energy levels throughout. At 55 years old, I slept soundly, recovered quickly, and woke each morning ready to take on another challenging pass. I’ll definitely be using Optiventure again it made all the difference.
Bridget F, 55
I took Optiventure during my recent 5-month PCT adventure and found I recovered well each morning and didn’t once get sick. I’m 50 and have arthritis and it really helped with inflammation and recovery. I doubled down after particularly long (65 km) days to give my body an extra boost to recover. So convenient having everything you need in one capsule. Definitely recommend!
Tania, 50
I have literally just returned from a 10 day trek in The Dolimites where I physically pushed my 55yr old body that definitely had some niggles before I left . Taking Optiventure supported me while I hiked up and down mountains, I did my very FIRST Via Ferrata, basically (rock climbing) and I felt pretty invincible, like super woman 💪. My body recovering after each day was great too. I typically have problems with digestive issues when im away and on these supplements I had no problems. I have used them for a month now , the whole time I was travelling and im super impressed. Thank you for bringing these to the market and to people like me who truly have benefited from taking them. Not paid , just the bloody truth 👏
Lyndal W, 55
These supplements are amazing! I've just returned from a 7 day hike on the Cape to Cape in Western Australia. Picture soft sand beach walking for days! The Sunset formula assisted with the most restful night's sleep I've ever had and woke feeling no muscle soreness or joint stiffness. I usually toss n turn all night with hip soreness but none at all this trip. Yay! The Sunrise formula I had with breakfast and I felt energised and noted improved stamina (but not wired and jittery). I challenged myself to a 30km day most of it in soft sand and I achieved my goal easily. I loved these supplements so much I've ordered more for everyday use at home! PS I have a sensitive gut so trialled the supplements at home, building up from one capsule to the recommended three. I had no adverse reactions. Again .. Yay!
