All Star Health has an tab under ‘Vitamins & Supplements’ titled ‘Essential Fats,’ but what makes a fat good or bad for you? Naturally we associate fat with weight gain, because the excess weight on our bodies is indeed fat. However, I just want to make sure everyone realizes that the fat on our bodies […]
Probiotic supplements help to restore a healthy population of beneficial bacteria in your intestines. These Probiotics are most commonly used for digestive disorders, less often (but very effectively) for immune system support. They’re among the safest supplements you can use since they never enter the bloodstream and are essentially non-toxic. Recent research suggests that probiotics can lower cholesterol, too.
The FDA is going after General Mills for the health claims they made for Cheerios cereal (read the warning letter here).
A frequent reason people cite for not using nutritional supplements is that they’re too expensive. We think nutritional supplements are a good investment no matter what your budget. You can’t put a price on health, but you can bet insurance companies, hospitals, labs, pharmacies and doctors can put a price on your health problems. If you value your financial security, then you’re crazy to take your health for granted. And even if you’re on a shoestring budget, there are some very affordable supplements that can make a huge contribution to protecting your health. How affordable? These five supplements – as of this date – cost less than five dollars for a one month supply. And reading today’s blog, of course, costs you nothing.
Among nutrients used for cholesterol support, fiber, Co Q-10, niacin, and red yeast rice get most of the attention. But plant sterols are not only effective, they’re extremely affordable, safe…and isn’t that what everyone starts out looking for in the first place? A recent study agrees, calling sterols “an important but underused dietary component in the treatment of elevated blood cholesterol”.
With all the economic belt-tightening going on, lots of people are trimming down their supplement regimens. When it comes to getting to most bang for your supplement buck, there are few that hold a candle to alpha lipoic acid. Using inexpensive alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is like getting 3 or more supplements in one. You won’t believe how many different things ALA can do for you, but you’re about to find out in today’s AllStarHealth blog.
Herba epimedii is an herb that’s been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which refers to it as yin yang huo. Loosely translated, yin yang huo means “horny goat weed”. Horny goat weed is a very popular supplement both by itself and in various libido formulas where it’s combined with other herbs and nutrients. With a name like ‘horny goat weed’ it’s hardly surprising that it’s best-known and most widely-used as a libido and sexual tonic. But the name also makes it hard for people to take the herb seriously. The name too easily lends itself to jokes and makes many otherwise interested customers uncomfortable talking about it or purchasing it. That’s a shame because it’s now clear that horny goat weed is useful for much more than boosting libido. Find out more about the herb with the unfortunate name in today’s AllStarHealth.com blog.
Dear AllStarHealth,
I’ve always taken vitamin E because there’s a family history of heart disease and a few of my nutrition books say it’s beneficial. But in the last few years I’ve come across conflicting information about vitamin E including some recent news stories that say it doesn’t help and can actually be harmful to use vitamin E supplements. So what’s the story?
Let’s take another look at the concept of appetite suppression and appetite suppressant supplements. They’ve both been around a long time. But is that a good strategy for everyone trying to lose weight, or just certain people? And do any of the products work?
Dear AllStarHealth,
We’re trying to avoid hydrogenated oils, which I understand are bad for your heart. I’ve noticed that the bars we buy have something called ‘fractionated’ oils. That doesn’t sound good! What are they and are they as bad for you as hydrogenated oils?
Thanks,
Del Garza
Dear Del,
Both fractionation and hydrogenation are ways of processing an oil to change the consistency and melting point. But fractionated oils are totally different than hydrogenated oils and don’t pose the same health risks.
