It’s not the first time that dairy foods have been associated with health risks, but the attention is usually focused on the effects of milk’s naturally-occurring saturated fats and cholesterol, as well as drug and hormonal contamination. More recently, researchers have been looking at the possible long-term effects of milk protein consumption, and they do mean ‘long-term’, going so far as to suggest prenatal effects in expectant Mom’s who consume dairy.  But for the millions of nutritionally-conscious consumers who consider dairy protein like whey an important part of their regimen - not to mention the brands that market such supplements -  this just-published study raises more questions than answers.  We’ll try to put it into perspective in today’  AllStarHealth blog. (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…)

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…)

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…)