Essential Oils come from the leaves, flowers, seeds, roots and stems of aromatic herbs.  They are used for Aromatherapy or can be mixed with shampoos, soaps and lotions to create unique cosmetics.  Essential oils are widely used in candles and diffusers to fill a room with their delightful aromas.  The use of essentials oils dates back in to the Egyptians and the Chinese, who first used the aromatic herbs in medicine and cosmetics.  There are a variety of creative ways to blend the oils and personalize your home and bath. (more…)

Chia Seeds are recognized as a Superfood because they are rich in Essential Fatty Acids, Antioxidants and Vitamins such as Vitamin B, Calcium, Niacin, and Thiamin.  Chia Seeds form a gel substance when hydrated and can absorb more than 9 times their volume in liquid.  This not only produces a feeling of fullness, but also helps the body stay hydrated.  The Chia Seeds are gluten-free and high in fiber; they are the highest commercially available source of Omega-3 fatty acid, and are a complete source of dietary protein.

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Gluten-Free diets have become increasingly popular these days, and there are many new products designed to meet the demand for a gluten-free lifestyle.  Though most people may only have slight intolerance to Gluten, it is estimated that about 15% of Americans suffer mild to moderate symptoms that can be lessened by reducing gluten ingredients from the diet.  The good news is that living a Gluten-Free lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all of your favorite foods anymore.  All you need to do is stock gluten-free ingredients among your other healthy kitchen products. (more…)

Everyone wants to know if you really get full on Full Bar.  Since Full Bar just hit the shelves I thought I would fill you in on the simple science behind the “Be Full, Live Full” philosophy of this brand.  Full Bar was created by a leading surgeon who wanted to offer an alternative to weight loss surgery.  His believes if you are already feeling full when you sit down for your meal, you will eat less and lose weight. 

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Truvia: The New Stevia Sweetener.......

Recent press releases and news reports (including an AllStarHealth blog post) revealed that the controversial sweetener stevia herb was finally about to go mainstream as major soda manufacturers announced their intention to begin using a newly-approved sweetener called Trvuvia in low calorie drinks.   Truvia’s manufacturer makes a big deal over the fact that it’s an herbal product,  and that it’s stevia, in particular  but when you look at the ingredient label (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…)

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…)

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…)

The supplement industry has enjoyed periods of rapid growth and expansion, not only in terms of sales and market statistics but also in terms of products. There is a constant stream of new supplement products coming onto the market, but for a variety of reasons, some of the most promising supplements fail to attract the attention which their benefits and properties would seem to merit. It can be many years from the time a new supplement is introduced to the time it “catches on” among consumers, doctors, practitioners and the market as a whole. (more…)