Many people take vitamins and supplements to boost their heart health. Which supplements work best? How much should you take? Here are tips to help you shop wisely.

Vitamin D & Calcium For Better Blood Sugar

You probably know about the vitamin D-calcium connection and that these nutrients are essential for building strong bones and preventing osteoporosis, the age-related thinning of the bones. But new research strongly suggests that vitamin D and calcium also play important roles in maintaining normal insulin function and glucose control — the keys to diabetes.

Your body can’t make them, so the only way to get omega-3 fats is to eat them. Here’s why they are so important and how to make sure you are getting enough.

If you’re thinking about adding an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to your daily regimen, there are things to consider first. Do you really need one? What type of supplement should you choose? What are the risks? Who Needs More Omega-3s?

Omega-3s Linked to Health of Menopausal Women

Two new studies reveal that ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the omega-3 fatty acid derived from fish oil, may improve mood and ease hot flashes in menopausal women.

While some bacteria are bad for us — think e. coli — other bacteria are very good for us. Inside our bodies these good bacteria help keep the bad guys’ numbers down. “Friendly” bacteria, or “probiotics,” are found in the active cultures of yogurt and other fermented dairy products and are also sold in supplement form. Some research has shown that probiotics may help prevent and treat yeast infections — which high blood sugars can trigger — and they may also boost immunity, alleviate inflammation, aid in the treatment of diarrhea, and mitigate hypersensitivities such as food allergies and skin conditions.

The shelves of drug and health food stores practically sag with multivitamin tablets and other supplements, all begging you to buy them. But should you take a multivitamin, and if so, how do you know which one to get?

Millions of Americans take multivitamins in the name of better health. Should you?

A new study suggests that the phytonutrient resveratrol can influence enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism as well as other factors involved in glucose regulation, indicating it may have a role to play in supporting healthy blood sugar levels.

Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s, for short) are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that come from food sources, such as fish, fish oil, some vegetable oils (primarily canola and soybean), walnuts, wheat germ, and certain dietary supplements. As supplements, omega-3s are marketed as capsules or oils, often as fish oil.