Beta-alanine is a popular sports supplement to boost athletic performance. It’s a non-essential amino acid, meaning that our bodies produce it on their own without needing to get beta-alanine from food sources. Though our bodies don’t need extra beta-alanine, supplementing with beta-alanine can be good for improving athletic performance. It can help boost your endurance…
When you start researching supplements, you’ll see advice about supplements to take together and supplements that shouldn’t be taken together. Some supplements work together to make both more effective, like taking D3 with K for better absorption. Others might work against each other, like multivitamins and caffeine. For zinc and magnesium, I’ve seen conflicting reports….
Would you like to sleep better? I think many, if not most, of us can answer yes. Too many adults wake up tired or find themselves dragging later in the day. There are a lot of supplements that people claim will help with sleep, and one of the more effective ones is ashwagandha. Ashwagandha (scientifically…
Many of us start the day with a cup (or more) of coffee or tea. We might also reach for another cup or an energy drink for an afternoon pickup. There’s nothing wrong with that for most adults, as long as you’re staying under 400 mg per day (or 200 mg for pregnant women). But…
Digestive enzymes are an essential part of the digestive process that help our bodies break down and extract nutrients from food. Your body makes these enzymes naturally, mostly in the pancreas but also in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine. You can also get enzymes from some foods or from supplements. If you’re low on…
Have you ever had a stressful week? Yeah, me too. I think everyone can relate to that feeling. And sometimes when we’re stressed, it’s hard to focus on other important things. Herbal supplements known as adaptogens can help with that. Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) is a plant native to cold, mountainous areas of Eurasia. The roots…
Should You Take Glutamine Supplements For Muscles or Gut Health? Amino acids are building blocks for protein, and glutamine is one that is abundant in the body. You can get it from food, and your body also produces it naturally. Sometimes, your body might need extra glutamine to recover from certain injuries or illnesses. The…
If you live in the United States, you’ve probably heard about the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and seen the upside-down food pyramid. Updates to these guidelines happen every five years and guide professional nutrition recommendations as well as provide general tips for healthy eating. You might have some questions about these new guidelines,…
Why Athletes Are Turning to Astaxanthin for Recovery and Cellular Protection Antioxidants help your body fight free radicals. That’s important because too high levels of free radicals (i.e. oxidative stress) are linked to a wide variety of health issues, including diabetes and cancer. Keeping free radicals in check helps your body stay healthy. Your body…
Tongkat Ali: Testosterone Support or Just Hype? Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia), also known as “long jack,” is a shrubby plant native to Southeast Asia. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine, with a variety of purported benefits including testosterone support and muscle building. As more and more people have started taking it…
