Latest Evidence in Supplements
According to a recent report, the global dietary supplements market is expected to reach USD 278 billion dollars by 2024. Some supplements are claimed to have benefits that haven’t been validated by research. Others are claimed to have benefits that haven’t even been studied. Some really are validated by research as being worthwhile for certain people in certain situations.
The question is: Which are which? This section contains research reviews for popular supplements, and answers to the most common health claims made about them.
BCAA Supplements Have Benefits but There are Risky Side Effects
How exactly did doctors manage before the internet? Take branched chain amino acids (BCAA) for example. If I search my undergraduate lecture notes from medical school, I would probably find two brief references to BCAA. The first mention of BCAA would come in...
Do GH3 Supplements Have Health Benefits? Analyzing the Research
Gerovital or GH3 is yet another candidate compound which is touted as the secret to eternal youth. It is said to boost sexual prowess, prevent heart disease (which you might need to support your new-found sexual mojo) and also prevent wrinkles and color hair (which...
24 Research Papers Reveal Forskolin Supplements Do Not Have Benefits
One of the most common issues troubling the modern human race is weight loss. To put this in perspective, it has to be said, that our obsession with weight loss is unique to the first world and our way of living. We already know that eating less and expending more...
Does Passion Flower or Its Extract Have Health Benefits?
Passion flower might just sound like the type of flower to send your loved one on Valentine's Day - but it's not that kind of passion flower. It actually got its name from Christian missionaries who drew parallels between the flower and the "passion" or "crucifixion"...
Research Shows Vitex (Agnus Castus) has This One Proven Benefit
My friends love the fact that I write articles for #HBS. When we meet for lunch, they unashamedly ask me about the latest topic and want the inside track on evidence-based science versus urban myth versus blogger fiction. The odd thing is that they rarely (if ever)...
Don’t Be Mislead by the Alleged Benefits of Astaxanthin Supplements
One of my friends who is obsessed with wacky life hacks has come up with yet another new idea. According to her, it is her best idea yet. To give you some background, she loves running outdoors and lives in Australia. She is now taking astaxanthin to enhance her work...
40 Scientific Studies Show Bacopa Has This One Health Benefit
Although many Americans only know bacopa as a plant found in aquariums, Bacopa monnieri has been used as a medicinal herb in Ayurvedic Medicine for many hundreds of years. It’s been used for a variety of health conditions including memory and brain-related disorders,...
Does Triphala Have Benefits? 33 Studies Show We Need More Research
Triphala, also known as “triphala churna,” is one of the most popular formulas in Ayurveda. Proponents tout that it has health benefits for all three of Ayurveda's dosha* constitutions. Triphala is most commonly known as a gentle bowel tonic, being helpful in...
Does Soy Lecithin Have Benefits? It’s Not the “Cure All” You Think It Is
I had a thought-provoking conversation with a very wise, elderly Japanese lady last week. As we sipped green tea from minuscule teacups, she spoke about the fact that the traditional way of life in Japan is being eroded. Surprisingly, she told me that the extinction...
Research Does Not Support the Health Benefits of Piracetam Supplements
Since time began, mankind has been looking for ways to extend lifespan and generally boost mojo- the all elusive elixir of life or the philosophers stone. Much is written in cult literature describing odd, sadistic and illegal rituals using numerology, sacred...