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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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.  (more…)

The best news for heart health is nattokinase, discovered in Japan.

A new human study should erase any lingering doubt as to whether or not nattokinase enzyme can really make a difference in terms of heart health. Find out what nattokinase is and how it helps heart health in today’s AllStarHealth blog.

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OK, but does anyone actually rely on a breakfast cereal for health information? Could this be more about protecting Big Pharma?

The FDA is going after General Mills for the health claims associated with Cheerios cereal (read the warning letter here).  (more…)

Isoflavones from soy may be able to improve circulation by boosting nitric oxide production.

Are you familiar with nitric oxide? You see a great many supplement products now with names coined around the terms “nitric oxide” and its common abbreviation;  “NO”.  Nitric oxide is a highly desirable natural compound that promotes better circulation by inducing a natural process known as vasodilation. There are many reasons people may want to increase nitric oxide production and vasodilation; better blood pressure, improved erectile function and muscle fullness are the most common.  In response, the supplement industry has created a whole category of supplements to promote vasodilation (” nitric oxide boosters”) most of which rely on, essentially, a single amino acid to get job done. A new study suggests that soy isoflavones are effective NO boosters, too, which could pave the way towards much more effective NO  products. (more…)

Kids need DHA for optimal learning and brain development. Fish oils are by far the best source.

A frequently-asked question pertaining to omega 3 fatty acids is whether fish oil or flax oil is better, or whether there’s any difference or benefit to taking one or the other.   Vegetarian considerations aside,  we do recommend fish oil (here’s our favorite fish oil)  and there are in fact significant differences that shed light on why we think  so. A new study adds weight to claims that fish oil  is better than flax oil, especially so for nursing Moms and infants. Find out why in today’s AllStarHealth bog. (more…)

Can a nutrient found in apples get those blood pressure numbers down?

Quercetin is already widely used a dietary supplement ingredient, although it’s rarely used just by itself. More commonly, quercetin is combined  with other complementary supplements or as part of a multi-ingredient formulas that target a specific health condition or factor. For example, one popular quercetin combination marketed by many supplement brands combines quercetin with the pineapple enzyme bromelain in a popular formula for allergy-like symptoms.  You’ll also see quercetin in  prostate formulas and products for vascular health, too. A new human quercetin study is bound to attract much more interest in quercetin since it shows beneficial effects on both blood pressure and harmful LDL cholesterol.  And these effects were demonstrated in people with metabolic syndrome, who are already at high risk for hypertension and cholesterol imbalances.  Better, yet, quercetin is inexpensive, natural, safe and very well-tolerated with none of the side-effects of either blood pressure or cholesterol drugs. (more…)

Grape seed extract contains potent antioxidant polyphenols.

As most readers as probably aware,  Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an increasingly-common degenerative disease of the nervous system.  Still lacking a cure or a even clear etiology, Alzheimer’ s involves a gradual loss of nervous system function, ultimately erasing a the victims memory, personality and ability to function and care for themselves, let alone others.  Most readers are also probably aware that AD is devastating to both victims and caregivers.  A considerable amount of research resources are now devoted to finding out more about Alzheimer’s and discovering drugs and natural substances which may be protect against Alzheimer’s.  A new study suggests that grape seed extract may protect against the very process responsible for the progressive loss of mental functions that characterizes Alzheimer’s.

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