Essential oils have a definite effect on our emotions—and those essential oils that have traditionally been used to reduce emotional stress and quell feelings of anxiety can help you begin to feel better almost instantly by signaling your system to increase production of serotonin, the neurochemical that researchers say lifts moods and encourages a positive mental outlook. Read the rest of this entry »

Energy bars can be a great mini-meal replacement or snack, especially if you need a source of quality energy as part of a balanced nutrition program. But which should you choose—a high-protein bar or a high-carb one? Finding the brands and manufacturers that only use quality ingredients can be difficult, and learning which type of bar best suits your lifestyle and fitness goals is a necessary first step. After all, you don’t want to wind up with what amounts to a glorified candy bar. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you are a serious, seasoned bodybuilder? An established athlete just beginning a concentrated weight-training regimen? Chances are that besides carefully planning your exercise program, you’re eating right as well, conscious of every morsel that creeps between your lips. A devout calorie-counter, you. A born ingredient-reader. So, why would you consider taking a supplement? Even when you’re doing all the right things, supplements can enhance your diet and exercise plan. Take nitric oxide, or NO, for example. Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t you hate it when you realize Mom was right about something?

Remember how she always told you to eat your greens? You probably responded by pushing them around your plate until she gave up. If you wanted dessert, you might even have gone so far as to touch the broccoli or asparagus to your lips, but that was it. Well, even back then your mom knew her stuff. Green foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, water, and antioxidants. Experts stress that the key to getting all the benefits that greens offer is to include different shades of green in your diet. Don’t think that because you’re eating a side salad with every meal that you’re getting enough greens in your system. Remember, the more variety, the greater the benefits. Read the rest of this entry »

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned ephedra in 2004, thousands of manufacturers of diet and weight-loss drugs turned their attention to finding natural and synthetic alternatives that would mimic its effects. Many of the ingredients in these fat burners also pose a number of health risks, but some of them may still be safer than ephedra. Understanding how ephedra works in the body can help you determine if alternative supplements are right for you. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re experiencing symptoms of acid reflux, regularly have chest pains even though your heart checks out fine, or you find it difficult to breathe after eating, you may have a form of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Read the rest of this entry »

If you seek a natural supplement that can work wonders, look seaward. The benefits of fish oil for coronary health have been widely documented. But fish oil isn’t just for heart health. It can treat or help prevent a variety of conditions, including depression, diabetes, osteoporosis, macular degeneration, attention deficit disorder, stroke, and auto-immune disorders. You can harness the power of fish oil by taking Nature’s Way Fisol or Super Fisol. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you up all night tossing and turning? If so, you’re in good company. According to a National Sleep Foundation poll, nearly half of all Americans report dealing with sleeplessness some of the time, and more that 20 percent experience it nearly every night. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a dedicated bodybuilder, you’re probably aware of nitric oxide (NO) boosters on some level. Because they seem to work very well, they’re extremely popular with bodybuilders and other athletes. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you’re aware of it or not, you probably are already familiar with the aroma of the herb thyme. If you’ve ever attended Thanksgiving dinner, you know the smell. It’s part of a popular culinary herbal trio often used to spice up the turkey, which also includes rosemary and sage. Rarely growing over a foot high and yielding numerous gray-green stems with tiny oval leaves, this little evergreen’s official botanical name is Thymus vulgaris. You may also find it called common thyme, garden thyme, or French thyme. Receiving its name from the Greeks, it originally meant “to fumigate,” while also symbolizing courage and a source of invigoration. Even then, they knew it possessed medicinal qualities beyond its potent yet pleasant aroma. Read the rest of this entry »