Wide-awake turkey approves of this blog entry.

Dear AllStarHealth,

You probably get this question around every Thanksgiving; what is it in turkey that makes people tired, is it really the tryptophan as everyone seems to suggest? I’ve tried taking tryptophan for insomnia and it didn’t seem to make me tired at all.

Thanks,

Frank Bucholz, Hanover, PA

A:  The idea that it’s the tryptophan in turkey, and not other factors, that induces the post-meal drowsiness has been around for a long time now. It arose in the early 80’s when a then-bestselling book familiarized and popularized  the amino-acid tryptophan as a dietary supplement for insomnia and mood support. (more…)

"You call that a strong immune system!? That ain't no strong immune system, read the blog son!!"

Holidays are supposed to be a time of reflection and joy. And they are, until you get sick. The Cold & Flu season is here again; cooler weather, traveling, more time spent indoors, and holiday stress all undermine your body’s immune defenses making those illnesses more likely now than at any other time of the year. It’s never a good time to get sick, but the Holidays are about the worst time. Well, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to whip that immune system into shape and keep it running at full power so you can enjoy unwrapping presents instead of another box of Kleenex. You can do any or all of these things, but don’t wait too long to get started. Fall in, soldier!

(more…)

Amino acids have specialized and unique benefitss

Amino acids are among the most useful and unique nutritional supplements, but they’re not as familiar to most people as vitamins and minerals. Although some amino acids are essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals, amino acid supplements aren’t used the same way.  Instead, people use amino acids for their specific and specialized effects on the mind and body. In this blog post, we’ll do a quick rundown of the most common types of and uses for amino acid supplements.  There’s a good chance you could benefit from one or several. (more…)