Ask the Counter
Real questions we hear at the counter, answered with the evidence.
-
NewestL-Theanine: Calm Focus From Tea, and What the Evidence Actually Supports
L-theanine, the tea amino acid for calm focus, honestly reviewed. See the studied 200 mg dose, the caffeine pairing, and what it will not do.
Read the full answer → -
Glucosamine: Sulfate vs Hydrochloride, and What the Evidence Actually Shows for Joint Comfort
Glucosamine sulfate vs hydrochloride, compared honestly. See the small, real evidence for joint comfort, the usual dose, and who should skip it.
-
Iron: Why Testing Comes First, and How Form and Timing Change What You Absorb
Iron works best when a blood test confirms you need it. Compare forms, elemental iron, and timing, and learn what blocks absorption.
-
CoQ10: What It Does in the Body, and Ubiquinone vs Ubiquinol, Honestly Compared
CoQ10 helps your cells make energy. Compare ubiquinone vs ubiquinol, see what evidence supports for heart health and statins, and what it will not do.
-
Calcium: Food vs Supplements, and Carbonate vs Citrate, Honestly Compared
Calcium from food, carbonate, or citrate: how much you actually absorb, why elemental calcium matters, and how to choose a form that fits your routine.
-
Turmeric and Curcumin: Why the Spice Is Not the Same as the Supplement
Turmeric is the spice and curcumin is its main active compound. Learn why form and absorption matter, what trials support, and what it will not do.
-
Ginger for Nausea and Digestion: What the Evidence Actually Supports
Ginger is one of the best studied kitchen remedies for nausea. Learn what doses the trials used, which form to pick, and what ginger will not do.
-
Melatonin: Why Timing and a Smaller Dose Matter More Than a Big One
Melatonin is a clock signal, not a knockout pill. Learn why timing and a smaller dose matter, what the evidence supports, and what it will not do.
-
Collagen, Checked: What It Can and Cannot Do for Skin, Hair, and Joints
Collagen peptides earn a top grade for joint pain and small skin gains. The two collagen forms differ by 250x in dose. Here is the honest comparison.
-
Building Your Immune Season Basics: Vitamin C, Zinc, and Elderberry, Honestly Graded
Zinc lozenges started at the first sniffle have real evidence. Vitamin C does not prevent colds. Elderberry is promising and thin. Your honest immune guide.
-
Berberine: The Internet's Favorite Supplement, Checked Against the Evidence
Social media calls berberine "nature's metformin." Examine grades its blood sugar evidence a B, not an A, and recently downgraded it. Here is the full picture.
-
Ashwagandha: What the Research Actually Says About Stress and Sleep
Ashwagandha earns top research grades for sleep quality and cortisol, but only a middle grade for stress and anxiety symptoms. The honest guide, with cautions.
-
Whey vs Plant Protein: How to Choose Your Protein Powder
The research verdict on whey vs plant protein is closer than the ads claim: total protein and training decide. Here is how to choose, plus the quality trap.
-
Vitamin D in a Wisconsin Winter: Why So Many of Us Run Low, and What To Do About It
At Green Bay's latitude, your skin makes almost no vitamin D for months. Here is how common low vitamin D is, who should test, and how to dose it sensibly.
-
Vitamin B12: Who Actually Runs Low, and Why
B12 is essential and most people get enough. The ones who run low share specific risk factors. Check whether you are on the list before you buy a bottle.
-
Probiotics: Why More Billion CFU Is Not Always Better
A 100 billion CFU label sounds better than 10 billion. Here is why strain and studied dose beat the big number, and a five-point checklist for reading any probiotic label.
-
Probiotics vs Digestive Enzymes: What Is the Difference, and Which Do You Need?
One is alive, the other is a tool. Probiotics and digestive enzymes do completely different jobs, and the research behind them is not equal. Compare here.
-
Omega-3s Explained: EPA, DHA, and Fish Oil vs Krill vs Algae
Fish oil lowers triglycerides with the strongest evidence grade. It does not prevent heart attacks. Here is the honest omega-3 guide, forms included.
-
Magnesium Forms Explained: Glycinate, Citrate, Malate, or Oxide?
Glycinate, citrate, malate, oxide: the magnesium forms compared in plain language, with the research on absorption, doses, and what magnesium will not do.
-
How to Read a Supplement Label: The 7 Things That Matter Most
Serving size tricks, proprietary blends, elemental amounts, and expiry guarantees: the seven label checks that tell you what a supplement is really worth.
-
Fiber: The Most Overlooked Supplement in America
Most adults get about half the fiber they need. Here is what fiber (especially psyllium) actually does in the research, and a painless two-week plan to close the gap.
-
Electrolytes: What Your Body Actually Loses in Sweat
Water handles most workouts fine. Long, hot, heavy sweating is electrolyte territory. Here is what sweat actually removes and how to replace it sensibly.
-
Creatine Is Not Just for Bodybuilders: Strength, Healthy Aging, and the Myths, Checked
Creatine is one of the most studied supplements on Earth. Here is what it does for strength and healthy aging, and the honest answers on hair loss and kidneys.
