You do need exercise and fresh air, gas masks are optional.

In Part One of AllStarHealth.com’s New Year Detox Guide, we laid down the basic principles of detoxification.  As we said near the beginning of that article, there’s no universally agreed-upon definition of or approach to detoxification, and the range of options and opinions runs the gamut from legitimate and useful to outright scam.

The BBC picked up on this theme with a story on today, but their headline is misleading when it says (more…)

Your world's a toxic place, unfortunately. Land......

Along with losing weight, joining a gym and giving up smoking, another popular New Year idea is undergoing a detox program of some kind. (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…)

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…)

Shakes give you higher-quality protein than meats, eggs and fish....with a little or no cholesterol.

Q: We were looking around for a nutrition shake and wanted to know, what products do you have that are cholesterol-free? We’re both on a low-cholesterol diet. Thanks for any suggestions.

Pat and Bernice H.

Cohasset, MA (more…)

Having trouble getting your day off the ground?

Q: What’s the best vitamin for energy?

Regards,

Thousands of customers, Everywhere

A: For most people, a good B complex vitamin helps increase their sense of mental and physical energy although the effects are subtler than stimulants like caffeine.  Remember to always take your B complex with solid food - if you have to skip breakfast, skip the B complex until you can take it with some food or you won’t absorb it and it may upset your stomach.

If you need more of a stimulant kick, and don’t mind some caffeine, you can’t go wrong with the little 5-Hour Energy Drinks.  They’ve already got the B vitamins built-in to the formula. Plus, they contain the right amino acids (phenylalanine, taurine, tyrosine) to help your brain respond to the caffeine and B-vitamins.  So the 5-Hour Drinks are able to give you a nice physical and mental energy boost without being over-the-top. No post-boost sugar or caffeine crash, either.

We'll keep it simple. Want more energy? Try these.

You can make a shake with just a spoon and a glass, a hand mixer or a shaker cup, but blenders work best.

Protein and meal replacement shakes have gone mainstream in a big way. Once solely the province of bodybuilders and hardcore dieters, nowadays everyone drinks shakes. But it can take some practice and trail-and-error before you can truly be called a  Shake Master. Here’s Part One of our Guide to Shake-ology; some FAQ’s and other pointers. In Part Two, which will post Friday November 7, we’ll post some recipe ideas. (more…)

Supplements may help with high blood pressure, but it's not just a matter of popping a few pills.

Dear AllStarHealth,

Help! My doctor’s told me that I have to go on a blood pressure medication.  I just looked up the side effects and I think it went up a few more points! I just hate the idea of taking prescription drugs. Are there any supplements I can take instead? I currently take a women’s multi and extra calcium.

Rachel,

Woodstock, NY (more…)

Coffee really isn't so bad for you after all.

It seems like coffee has always had bad rap among the health-conscious.  What have you heard? That it will cause cancer? Cause an ulcer? Raise risk of a heart attack? Actually, none of these are supported by science. Find out why and how coffee can be a beneficial, healthy beverage.

(more…)