Dietary supplements
Creatine is an amino acid which the body manufactures in the kidneys, pancreas and liver, but which the body can also get from meat, fish and other seafood in the diet. It is converted to creatine phosphate and stored in muscle tissue. When the body needs energy, especially in intense …
This is a supplement used to treat insomnia or other sleep problems, usually as a short term measure. Natural melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland. The hormone regulates sleep, and the supplement can be useful for people who can’t get to sleep easily, who …
L-Arginine, often referred to simply as arginine, is an amino acid which the body uses to make protein. Most people get enough arginine from their diet, as it is found in common foods like fish, dairy products, poultry, beans, nuts, leafy vegetables and red meat. Pumpkin seeds and peanuts also …
Scientific studies have shown that tart or sour Montmorency cherries contain melatonin, and that taking tart cherry juice concentrate can improve sleep quality. Studies are also investigating its use as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. One of the sleep studies, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, had a double-blind, placebo …
Westcairn.com is dedicated to helping you find out what’s real and what’s effective in the world of dietary supplements. Some supplements work well and do what they claim, with strong peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support them. Other supplements for particular conditions do work, but not very well, or only in …
Probiotics have become popular in recent years. The idea of ingesting ‘friendly’ bacteria which are good for you gut, your digestion and your general health is not a new one – it has been around since early last century – but they have now taken off in a big way. …