With vitamin E, keeping the family together is important.

In previous AllStarHealth blogs, we’ve made the point that  Vitamin E isn’t really one vitamin, it’s a group of 8 distinct vitamins, all of which have distinct functions and most of which are present when you obtain vitamin E from whole foods. The best vitamin E supplements now reflect this and contain a full range of vitamin E forms, for a full range of vitamin activity and protection. But for decades, most vitamin E supplements have contained just one form, d-alpha-tocopherol, based on the fact that this form is the most abundant in the blood and most body tissues. More recent research has shown that the other forms of vitamin E  have their own distinct benefits that don’t apply to a-alpha-tocopherol, including protection from breast cancer according to a recent study.

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NOW Foods Acidophilus & Bifidus is a best-selling probiotic supplement.

Probiotic supplements help to restore a healthy population of beneficial bacteria in your intestines.   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. Read the rest of this entry »

A recent  study challenged some of the concepts behind the diet-and-obesity link and suggests that meal-size  - more than total calorie intake or feeding frequency - is a key factor in the development of obesity.  Read the rest of this entry »

The sunshine vitamin may prevent the development of childhood asthma.

A review of previously-published  research finds some interesting links between vitamin D levels and the development of childhood  asthma.  Find out what the researchers had to say in today’s AllStarHealth blog. Read the rest of this entry »

A new study shows that a nutrient found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli virtually stops the cell progression of several common types of prostate cancer. This nutrient is already available as a supplement and many men and women are using it right now for detoxification and hormonal support.  Find out more about it  in today’s AllStarHealth blog. Read the rest of this entry »

Stress getting to you? Relora might help.

As the pace of life gets faster and life itself becomes more complicated, you’ll have plenty of company if you occasionally feel anxious and overwhelmed by temporary events or an over-committed schedule.  What would really help in circumstances like these is something to subdue the anxiety, but without powerful sedative or relaxant properties. Something that helps with anxiety, but not by sending you to the couch for a nap. Something that still allows  you to function.  A doctor might prescribe an anti-anxiety drug, but that’s not the first option most people want to try. Instead,  people have turned to natural remedies such as herbs and amino acids to see what, if anything, is there to help them navigate the occasional anxiety-provoking episodes in life without making them feel tired or sleepy. Read the rest of this entry »

Soy foods and soy supplements have always had their supporters and detractors. Among the benefits attributed to soy are beneficial effects on hormones including possible reductions in the risk of  breast cancer.  Controversy has persisted over this claim, because of some evidence that soy’s hormonal effects may actually increase the risk of breast cancer in some circumstances.  For better or worse, millions of menopausal and peri-menopasual women use soy every day to promote and protect their health.  Find out what the Loma Linda University’s Department of Nutrition had to say about these ideas in today’s AllStarHealth blog. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s new from the world of nutritional research and how will the latest findings influence the supplements you use? Find out in today’s AllStarHealth.com blog.

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Antioxidants are among the most popular of all dietary supplements and include many familiar nutrients like vitamins C and E.  Antioxidants have a wide-range of health benefits that all stem from their ability to  neutralize unstable chemicals  (known as ‘free radicals’)  that damage delicate cellular structures by oxidizing them, just like bleach ruins fabric.  Exercise also has a wide-range of health benefits that stem from the fact that it improves body strength and functions. But paradoxically, exercise and antioxidants may not go well together. Read the rest of this entry »

Long-term abuse of alcohol wreaks havoc on brain and liver health.

An interesting study suggests that extracts of 2 common kitchen herbs are potent alcohol-detoxifying agents that could protect the liver and brain from the kind of damage that accrues with continuous alcohol abuse.  Read the rest of this entry »