Product Reviews and Information for Bad Breath

1/02/2025

Fish Oil for Long COVID?

Does taking fish oil improve symptoms of long COVID such as shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, lack of taste, or loss of smell? Find out what a recent study showed in the COVID-19 section of our Fish Oil Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for fish oil.

6/14/2022

Curcumin for COVID?

Does curcumin supplementation reduce symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath in people with mild to moderate COVID-19? See what a recently published study found in the What It Does section of our Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements and Spices Review.

Also see our article about other supplements proposed to help prevent or treat COVID-19.

6/28/2017

Some Concern About Theobromine in Dark Chocolate

ConsumerLab's tests of dark chocolates show them to contain about as much theobromine (a caffeine-related stimulant) as heart-healthy flavanols. So is all this theobromine good or bad? A recent study suggests that it may be an issue for people who need to control their blood sugar, while, on the positive side, it lowers LDL "bad" cholesterol. Get the details in the "Concerns and Cautions" section of the Cocoa Powders, Dark Chocolate, Extracts, Nibs, & Supplements Review, which includes comparisons of the amounts of theobromine in popular products, as well as amounts of flavanols, caffeine, and contaminants.

2/10/2017

High-Dose Resveratrol Increases "Bad" Cholesterol

A study of middle-aged men with metabolic syndrome found that high doses of resveratrol increased levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol. Get the details in the "What It Does" section of the Resveratrol Supplements Review (which includes our tests of products) >>

7/15/2022

Is Soy Good or Bad?

Are soy products such as soy isoflavones, soy protein, soy oil, and soy lecithin beneficial or harmful? Find out in our answer to the question: Is soy in supplements good or bad for you?

9/07/2022

Fish Oil + Statins for "Bad" Cholesterol

Does adding high-dose fish oil to statin therapy help reduce "bad" cholesterol? Find out what a recent study showed in the Taking with statins section of our Fish Oil Supplements Review.

7/19/2022

Bad Clams

Two popular brands of canned clams were recently recalled. See the details our Canned Fish Review.

9/28/2022

Justifying Bad Red Yeast Rice?

How can a major supplement company justify selling red yeast rice that ConsumerLab discovered to be contaminated and provide barely any active compound? Find out what a CL member was told when she asked the company.

11/08/2022

Potassium Added to Starbucks Coffee?

A competitor of Starbucks claims that Starbucks is adding potassium to some of its coffee. Get the details obtained by ConsumerLab in our article: Is drinking coffee good or bad for heart health?

12/08/2023

Bad News for Banana & Chocolate Lovers

Mixing cocoa or chocolate with foods like bananas (as in a smoothie) may significantly degrade beneficial cocoa flavanols, according to a new study. Some other fruits don’t cause this problem. Get the details in the ConsumerTips section of our Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Review, and see our Top Picks among products.

7/29/2022

Citicoline Bad for Arteries?

A CL member asked us if citicoline, a form of choline in supplements, can raise TMAO levels, which has associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of or Choline Supplements Review.

2/17/2026

Walnuts for Cholesterol

Can walnuts lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol or triglyceride levels? Get the verdict from a new study in our Shelled Walnuts Review, which includes our Top Picks among walnuts.

3/19/2025

Bad B-12 Supplements Sold on Amazon

Eleven out of 23 vitamin B-12 supplements sold on Amazon and tested by a competing brand contained less B-12 than listed on labels, including two with no detectable B-12. Get the details in our B Vitamin Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for B-12, B-complexes, and other B vitamin supplements.

5/15/2025

Lowering Cholesterol: Oats vs Rice

In a recent study, people following a low-gluten diet consumed either oat-based or rice-based foods. Find out which lowered LDL "bad" cholesterol the most in our Oat Cereals Review, which includes our Top Picks among oats.

10/15/2021

How Coffee Helps the Heart

A recent study may help explain how moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of heart disease. Get the details in our updated answer to the question: Is drinking coffee good or bad for heart health?

9/15/2020

Too Much Vitamin D Bad for Bone?

High doses of vitamin D may lead to loss of bone mineral density in women, according to a recent study. Get the details in the How Much Is Too Much section of our Vitamin D Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for vitamin D.

3/17/2021

Does Coffee Consumption Lower Cardiovascular Risk, or Is It the Other Way Around?

New study results may undermine the association between moderate coffee consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Find out in our updated answer to the question: Is drinking coffee good or bad for heart health?

12/21/2021

This Year’s Flu Shot a “Bad Match?”

The 2021-2022 flu shot may be less effective against the currently dominant flu strain, but there is still good reason to get a shot, according to a recent study. Get the details in our updated article about Flu Vaccines.

10/14/2017

Turmeric (Curcumin) and Cholesterol

Turmeric and curcumin (from turmeric) can help lower levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides, according to a recent review of studies. Certain formulations may be better than others. Get the details in the "What It Does" section of the Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements Review >>

10/11/2019

Eggshell Membrane for Bad Knees?

Eggshell membrane, which naturally contains collagen, was tested as a supplement to improve knee pain, stiffness, and function. Find out if it worked in the Joint Pain section of the Collagen Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for collagen.

4/11/2020

Coconut Oil and Cholesterol

Coconut oil is known to raise levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol but also increase levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. Is one more important than the other? Find out the latest information in the Cautions and Concerns section of the Coconut Oil and MCT Oil Review. Also see our Top Picks for coconut and MCT oils.

9/04/2020

Coffee and Cholesterol

Drinking large amounts of coffee daily can increase cholesterol levels, according to a recent analysis. Get the details in our answer to the question: Is drinking coffee good or bad for heart health?

5/27/2013

Red Yeast Rice with Sterols?

It is well known that taking a red yeast rice supplement can cause large reductions in LDL "bad" cholesterol and that sterol or stanol esters can lead to modest reductions. But does combining them result in greater benefits than using either alone? A new study says no. It's unclear, however, whether this is always the case. Get details in the updated Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review >>. Also see the updated, Cholesterol Lowering Supplements Review >>

10/25/2014

Probiotics Reduce Cholesterol / Improve Liver Function

Adding probiotic organisms to yogurt appeared to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol in a study of people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a common condition. Levels of liver enzymes also improved and more weight loss occurred when people ate the probiotic yogurt, in contrast to those who ate regular yogurt. The probiotic organisms used in this study are found in several products recently tested by ConsumerLab.com. See the details in the Probiotic Supplements Review >> 

3/04/2012

When Not to Take Selenium Cholesterol Lowering with Sterols/Stanols

A recent study using a popular supplement, CholestOff, showed a modest reduction in LDL ("bad") cholesterol and total cholesterol. The reductions were not as dramatic as in some other studies of sterols and stanols; possibly because participants in the study were already on a cholesterol-lowering diet. See the update to the Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements Review for details of the study, more information about the diet, and our tests of CholestOff and other cholesterol-lowering supplements. More >>

2/19/2012

Does Garlic Lower Cholesterol?

Garlic can lower total cholesterol but not by lowering so called "bad" or LDL cholesterol, according to a recent analysis. Find out more in the update to the Garlic Supplements Review, which includes our tests of garlic supplements and information on dosing. More >>

12/20/2011

Algal Oil vs. Fish Oil

Fish get their omega-3's from algae and many people are now doing the same by taking algal oil, but how does it compare to fish oil? Experts recently reviewed studies of algal oil and concluded that it boosts ("good") cholesterol but it also increases LDL cholesterol -- which is often thought of as "bad" cholesterol. But there's more to the story. Get the details in the recently updated Fish/Marine Oil Supplements Review, which includes our test results for algal, krill, and fish oil supplements.

6/10/2015

Do Plant Sterols Help?

Many studies have shown that taking plant sterols with meals can lower levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol. While that's a good thing, a recent study questions whether this reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease — the main target of treatment. Get the details in the "Concerns and Cautions" section of the Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements (Sterols and Policosanol) Review >>

11/07/2015

Triglyceride-Lowering with a Probiotic

Studies with probiotics have demonstrated modest lowering of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, but the evidence has been mixed regarding triglycerides. A recent study in which a probiotic was added to a kefir drink showed a 17% reduction in triglycerides along with a modest reduction in LDL — effects not seen with the kefir alone. Details are found in the Probiotics and Kefirs Review >>

8/09/2016

Spirulina Lowers Cholesterol

Spirulina, a common ingredient in greens and whole foods supplements, was found to lower total and "bad" LDL cholesterol, but only in certain people. Get the details, plus our tests of products containing spirulina, in the Greens and Whole Foods Powders, Drinks and Pills Review >>

7/09/2014

Chlorella Lowers Cholesterol and Triglycerides

A daily dose of chlorella (an ingredient included in some "greens" and whole foods supplements) significantly reduced total cholesterol, "bad" VLDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in men and women with mildly elevated cholesterol. Get the details, including the dosage used, plus our tests and comparisons of supplements containing chlorella and other "greens" in the updated Greens and Whole Foods Powders and Pills >> 

7/29/2015

Stanols Lower Cholesterol

Many studies have shown that plant sterols and stanols can help lower levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol. A new placebo-controlled study, which involved advice on diet and exercise, found benefit with a slightly lower dose of stanols than typically recommended. Get the details in the "What to Consider When Buying" section of the Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements Review »

10/19/2016

How Much Do Oats Lower Cholesterol?

A new report shows that you can lower bad cholesterol by nearly 5% when eating certain amounts of whole oats or oat bran. For details, as well as our tests of products, see the Oat Cereals Review >>

6/24/2017

Red Yeast Rice Variability

While red yeast rice can significantly reduce high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, a recently published analysis of 28 brands re-emphasized the fact that amounts of active, cholesterol-lowering compounds can range from none to potent levels, yet this information is not found on labels. Read about the recent study and find out which products ConsumerLab has identified as the least and most potent in the Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review >>

3/11/2012

Vitamin D Effect on Body Fat and Cholesterol

As we have reported earlier, adequate intake of vitamin D may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study may help explain why. A 12-week course of vitamin D given to overweight women lead to a boost in HDL ("good" cholesterol) as well as a decrease in body fat. However, total body weight did not change and there was an increase in LDL ("bad") cholesterol, although it appeared to be less plaque-forming in nature. For details, including the dose given, see the updated information in the Vitamin D Supplement Review. More >>

5/31/2011

Niacin Concern Stops Cardiovascular Study

A clinical trial using high dose niacin (vitamin B₃) was recently stopped by the National Institutes of Health due to lack of benefit and a small increase in strokes. Patients in the study had cardiovascular disease and were already taking a statin drug to keep LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels low. The addition of high dose niacin was intended to increase HDL ("good") cholesterol, reduce elevated triglycerides, and, most importantly, reduce the risk of heart attacks and stoke. For more information, including the amount and type of niacin used in the study and additional information about niacin and niacin supplements, see the B Vitamin Supplements Review. More >>

6/07/2017

Spoiled Fish Oil Is Less Effective

Spoiled fish oil does not lower LDL "bad" cholesterol, while the same amount of non-spoiled fish oil does, according to a new study. If you take fish oil to improve your cholesterol levels, it would seem best to use a product that is not spoiled — something ConsumerLab tests for. (It may also be best to choose an oil in the triglyceride form, rather than the ethyl ester form). For details, see the "Quality Concerns" section of the Fish Oil Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among fish oils.