For decades, creatine had an image problem. Walk into a supplement store 20 years ago and you were likely to find a giant tub of creatine sitting somewhere between the pre-workout powders and weight-gainer shakes. It was marketed primarily to young men who wanted bigger muscles, heavier bench presses, and better performance in the gym. Today, the conversation looks very different. Creatine is increasingly being discussed not just as a sports supplement, but as a potential tool for healthy...

After my annual lipid panel results came back higher than usual, I asked my physician to order advanced lipid testing. I expected the results to reflect the healthy lifestyle I had maintained for decades. However,, my testing revealed elevated apolipoprotein B and elevated lipoprotein(a). The lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), result was particularly important. Lp(a) is predominantly genetically determined and is considered a cardiovascular risk-enhancing factor. Although my current cardiovascular...

Every few months, a headline appears claiming that a common supplement can prevent cancer. Most of those stories deserve a healthy dose of skepticism. This one is different. Researchers at Rockefeller University recently published a fascinating study in Cell demonstrating that the amino acid arginine may play a critical role in helping our immune system recognize cancer cells and viral infections. Before you rush out to buy an arginine supplement, let's look at what the study actually found,...