Superfoods Part I is going to focus on the benefits of Barley, Wheat Grass and Hemp Oil.  Superfoods contain super nutrients that your body needs.  These superfoods include the Acai berry, Barley, beans and lentils, yogurt, Alfalfa, Wheat Grass, Flaxseed, Hemp seeds, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin, Avocado, Leafy greens and Wild Salmon just to name a few.  Ideally we could sit around all day and eat all of these superfoods in order to get all of the nutrients and antioxidant powers they contain, but sometimes it is easier to add a Superfood supplement to your diet.    (more…)

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…)

Some of the best supplements are the least-expensive. Seriously!

A frequent reason people cite for not using nutritional supplements is that they’re too expensive.  We think nutritional supplements are a good investment no matter what your budget. You can’t put a price on health, but you can bet insurance companies, hospitals, labs, pharmacies and doctors can put a price on your health problems.  If you value your financial security, then you’re crazy to take your health for granted. And even if you’re on a shoestring budget, there are some very affordable supplements that can make a huge contribution to protecting your health. How affordable? These five supplements - as of this date - cost less than five dollars for a one month supply. And reading today’s blog, of course, costs you nothing.

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Whole fruits and vegetables are the best sources of insoluble fiber.

It’s already been well-established that increasing dietary fiber has all kinds of benefits for you; lower cholesterol, lower risk of disease, better elimination and detoxification and even better weight management. And it’s also pretty well-established  that most people don’t get enough dietary fiber in the first place.  So it’s always been easy to make a case for fiber supplements, since they’re so inexpensive, safe and easy-to-use.

But there are different types of fiber, and they  have different effects and benefits. So you want to make sure you’re using the right kind of fiber supplement for your situation. If you’re using or considering using fiber for weight management,  there’s new information that points to a crucial difference between the type of fiber and whether it promotes weight loss or weight gain. It’s good food-for-thought for anyone trying to lean up and looking for safe, effective and non-stimulant options.

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Lentils and beans are good sources of cholesterol-lowering plant sterols.

Among nutrients used for cholesterol support fiber, Co Q-10, niacin, and red yeast rice get most of the attention.  But plant sterols are not only effective, they’re extremely affordable, safe…and isn’t that what everyone starts out looking for in the first place? A recent study agrees, calling sterols “an important but underused dietary component in the treatment of elevated blood cholesterol”. (more…)

Long before it’s talked about on the evening news or Oprah, the most interesting nutritional news and research first appears in peer-reviewed  scientific journals; the ones nobody reads but doctors, scientists or grad students. So once a month, AllStarHealth summarizes some of the most promising new findings in our Nutrition News Roundup.

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Problem: the higher the crop yield, the lower the nutritional content.

Everyone knows that eating a fruit and vegetable-rich diet is important if you want to stay healthy. It might not be too long before even that’s not enough.  A recent study showed significant and worrisome declines in the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, particularly in terms of protein and mineral content.  (more…)

The EndoBarrier lines the intestine preventing absorption of food calories.

Reducing calorie consumption is a proven way to lose weight, but people aren’t always disciplined enough to maintain a reduced calorie diet on their own. That accounts for some of the success and popularity of gastric bypass and gastric band surgeries, both of which reduce the quantity of calories absorbed.  But since both procedures carry considerable risks, there’s been strong interest in developing effective alternatives that are less dangerous to the patient.

Makers of a new device called the EndoBarrier say that’s just what they’ve accomplished.  (more…)

Get the most of of each supplement in your regimen by taking it at the ideal time.

They say timing is everything. That’s especially true when it comes to certain nutritional supplements.  Taking a supplement at the wrong time can make a big difference in terms of the results you’ll get.  Or, it can make no difference at all.  You’ll know which is which when you’ve checked out our guide to supplement timing. (more…)

Some people need to avoid stimulants......

Dear AllStarHealth.com

I’m a 55 y.o. woman on (hypertension drug) for my high blood pressure and need to lose about 25-30 pounds. I joined a gym last November and am exercising as much as I can, I’m trying to eat right, too but it’s so hard to lose weight at my age.  I sure could use some help. I can’t have any caffeine or stimulants, so most of the diet pills are off-limits. What are my best options in terms of supplements I ‘can’ use?

Thanks for any help,

Freida J.

Ohiopyle, PA

Dear Freida,

There are a few types of supplements that might help.  Keep in mind that (more…)