2009 won't be a walk in the park for many. Rule 1: Protect your health!

A New Year is a always a great occasion to reflect on the year just passed and set goals for the year about to arrive.

It’s always been the perfect time of year to re-commit to losing excess weight, getting into better shape, getting that blood pressure down, stop smoking, clean up your diet or start taking some supplements. These are all worthwhile, achievable goals.  But, suddenly, protecting your health has taken on a new urgency and importance.  Suddenly, even with the best health insurance in the world, taking your health for granted, or taking avoidable risks with your health is a very risky proposition. (more…)

Winter weather and holidays make it all too easy to get into a rut with your workouts.

Dear AllStarHealth,

Maybe it’s been our typical Minnesota weather, or the Holidays, or something else, but we’ve really gotten into a rut with our training. My wife and I go to the gym every other day faithfully but we don’t seem to be making the kind of progress we were just a few months ago. I think she’s losing her enthusiasm for it, and we’re kind of at a plateau. Are there any supplements that can help us get back on track?

Dear AllStarHealth,

I’m training for my first bodybuilding event which is coming up this March.  My lifts we’re going great there for awhile but I’m gotten into a rut. My lifts have plateaued. I’m no longer seeing any gains in size, or cuts, or anything.  I don’t have a lot of time left to work with and wanted to know what you’d recommend to help jump-start my progress.

Dear AllStarHealth,

I started working a new job in October and as a result of that, the only time I can work out is 5 AM. I’ve never really been a morning person, and I’m finding it really hard to stay on track . Even with a lot of coffee, I’m just not having good lifts anymore.  It’s all I can do to get myself in and out of there in time to get to work.  I’m in a rut. Are there any products you’d suggest? (more…)

Appetite suppressants can help you feel satisfied with less food. But, please, eat something.

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?

(more…)

Don't believe the hype! Here's a real superfood, unsweetened organic cocoa powder.

Acai is getting a lot of attention as a hot new ‘superfood‘ thanks to endorsements from celebrity dermatologist Dr. Perricone, the multi-level marketing operation behind the over-hyped MonaVie, and other interests.

‘Superfood’ is a term a lot of people hadn’t ever even heard until recently.  But when it started being used to promote acai berries, something clicked in the public’s mind. Maybe it’s the welcome and intuitive change in thinking that whole foods can be just as good for us as supplement capsules and tablets.

But ’superfood’ isn’t a technical or specific term, anyone can call anything a superfood.  To be a legitimate superfood, we think a product or substance has to meet 3 criteria: (more…)

Coming soon to a Coke label near you: Stevia

First Coke and Pepsi, and now Dr. Pepper have all announced their intention to begin marketing drinks sweetened with stevia.  Meanwhile, millions of people are wondering what the heck took them so long. (more…)

AllStarHealth gift baskets for her (on left) and him. Let us take care of your last minute gifts!

It happens to all of us. You run out of time before you run out of presents to buy.  And even if you do have the time, the last thing you want to do at this time of year is get back in the car again and go off to do battle at the nearest mall or big box store.  Well we’ve got you covered.  Here are a few great gift ideas from AllStarHealth.com so you can scratch a few names off your list while you’re reordering supplements. But act quickly since supplies are limited! (more…)

Egg yolks, soybeans and brains: 3 delicious sources of dietary lecithin

Dear AllStarHealth.com,

Two friends and I are trying to win an office bet by losing 10 lbs each before 3 other coworkers do. At our meeting last night, Sheila said she had read or heard lecithin is really good for weight loss, something about it breaks up fat or fat cells?  I hadn’t heard of it before, but I’d like to order some today if there’s anything to that. Is there?

Thanks

Denise F.

Culver City, CA (more…)

Acai berries. Most acai supplements use freeze-dried berries or juice.

You may have been hearing a lot about Acai (ah-sa-EE) berry supplements or acai juice lately. Acai is an antioxidant-rich palm fruit that grows in South America, and is widely cultivated and consumed  in various forms throughout that region. Acai berries are round, dark-purple and about 1 inch in diameter, similar to a grape and grow in bunches that contain hundreds of individual fruits. Two crops of berries are produced each year.Interest in Acai berries and Acai products has grown with the discovery that the fruits have an exceptional nutritional profile, including high levels of antioxidants, amino acids and nutritional fats.  Seeking to capitalize on this interest, a great many Acai products and brands have come onto the market in a relatively short period of time.  Some make exaggerated or unsubstantiated claims. Perhaps even more significantly, several high-profile individuals such as Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Oprah Winfrey have publicized Acai supplements and purported great benefits from using them. This has further intensified interest and demand, drawing even more Acai products to the market, with ever more-attractive health claims. Quite a few AllStarHealth customers have asked us to comment on the new popularity and legitmacy of Acai supplements.  From these questions, it’s clear that someone somewhere is making some pretty tall claims about Acai: Is it really anti-aging?  Does it get rid of joint pain? Is it better than Viagra? (more…)

Speed is over-rated!

Dear AllStarHealth,

I need advice, please. I am trying to lose about 25 lbs. I do cardio 3 days a week and weights 3 days week.  My friend and I pooled our AllStarHealth order to save on shipping and since he got some Casein Protein, I ordered some too. He was saying it was better than Whey protein powder, but I forgot why.  So when I went and read up on it, from what I have read everyone seems to say whey is better because it absorbs faster.   Is that true and does it make a difference which one I use?

Thanks,

Lisa Connors,

Springfield, MO

Whereas people used to just use one type of protein powder, it’s very common now to see people using 2 or 3 types and buying different flavors of one type. They’re just more popular now than ever and people can take advantage of the different types.

It’s true that whey absorbs faster than casein protein, that’s the gist of it,  but (more…)

What have you heard about protein shakes?

Dear AllStarHealth,

One thing I’m still confused about with protein shakes is whether they are going to make you slimmer or bulkier?

Thanks,

Shireen (more…)