Many supplements have similar-sounding names, leading to confusion and disappointment with results.

With thousands of dietary supplements on the market and more emerging every day, there are a growing number of similar-sounding products making it all too easy to buy the wrong product for your needs.  For example, there’s calcium ascorbate, calcium pyruvate and calcium d-glucarate,  but none of these is actually a calcium supplement.   Here’s a guide to help you sort out the most  commonly-confused supplements. (more…)

Mailbag: Supplements From Sea

Q: I think we have a few too many ‘nutrition experts’ in the family! Last time we got together we had seafood, and afterward the Big Debate was about which is best; fish oil, salmon oil, krill oil, or cod liver oil. I couldn’t keep up with all the crosstalk about mercury and omegas, and all the technical details. Could you straighten me out on which is best, or at least give me something that will settle this so they can argue about something else next time?

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Cleansing products from NOW, Nature's Way and Yerba Prima

Q:  We’ve noticed the many different cleansing products available now and have a few supplement-using friends that strongly advocate cleanses.  We wonder if you could give us a little guidance on choosing the best one?

A:  We get quite a few questions about cleansing products; Do I need one? What are the differences between cleansing products? How do I go about choosing a product?  Here’s an overview of cleansing products and what they can and can’t do for you. (more…)

Good nutrition and the right supplements can unlock more of your brain power.

With the summer just about behind us, the weather grows cooler and the days grow shorter as students of all ages try to get back into the swing of classes, tests, studying, reading and memorization.   Unfortunately for many, the sudden change in routine can leave them feeling physically and mentally sluggish, just when they need to be bright-eyed and mentally sharp.

That’s probably why we always receive a few emails around this time of year asking  about supplements to improve memory, concentration, verbal skills  and what some people describe as ‘mental energy’.   The good news is, yes, there are some great supplements you can start using right now. What’s the bad news?

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Is your kitchen cupboard a repository of healthy foods or a nutritional vault-of-horrors? Chances are there are at least a few products in everyone’s kitchen that could easily be replaced with far healthier alternatives.  So, what are those alternatives? Find out in this guide to cleaning up your kitchen, nutritionally. (more…)

A stress herb that lowers cholesterol, another body blow for fructose, and a big sigh of relief for popcorn lovers. Find out what else is new in our roundup of the latest nutrition research.

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Tired of being tired? Time to take stock of your metabolism.

Q: I am a busy 38 year-old mother of 2 who works part time.  I have been struggling with feeling sluggish and tired for months, or maybe years?   I’m not sure, I just always wake up tired and need coffee right away just to function, and usually have to have some more later in the day since I ‘crash’ around 3 pm.  I ‘m gaining more and more weight and am too tired to exercise. I hadn’t changed my diet or anything so I had a thyroid evaluation last Spring and according to my doctor, everything is “normal”.  I am so frustrated and tired of being tired! How can I increase my metabolism?

Thanks,

Jennifer T.

A:

Sorry to hear about the difficulty you’ve been having.  When every day becomes a battle between you and your fatigue it really undermines the quality of life.

When it comes to increasing your metabolism, there are four crucial areas to examine. (more…)

How and when should you take your supplements for best results?

Q: As you can see from our order history, we take a lot of supplements for our health!  They represent a considerable investment so my wife and I wanted to know what time of day to take them for best absorption and results (list enclosed).

Thanks-

Gene and Bonnie C.

A: It really depends on the supplement, and in all cases you’re safe going with the manufacturer’s recommended usage.  But it does get complicated when you’re juggling several products. Here’s a guide to getting the most out of each product in your regimen. (more…)

Chamomile may help diabetics and hyperglycemics.

Most people are familiar with diabetes and hyperglycemia.  After all, both are extremely common. But when you ask most people what diabetes and hyperglycemia really are - even persons who have diabetes or hyperglycemia -  it’s clear most people don’t understand either condition.

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Fructose is a naturally-occurring sugar found in fruits and vegetables. It’s also concentrated in corn syrup and increasingly used as a sweetener for , well, almost every type of mass market processed food or beverage. These commercial foods and drinks - and not fruits and vegetables - are the source of most of the fructose in the average American’s diet, and it turns out there is a lot of fructose in the American diet. (more…)