Alice D. Hirschel
PhD in Nutritional ScienceAlice Hirschel, PhD is Proper's Head Formulation Scientist. She has 19 years of experience working in research and product formulation, with her current role as the Technical Business Director at ABITEC Corporation and her previous position as a Product Development Scientist at GNC. Dr. Hirschel earned her PhD in Nutritional Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She consults with food, nutrition, and supplement companies in formulating a variety of delivery forms with a variety of active ingredients, developing clinical studies and reviewing scientific literature to support label claims, and to support creative and marketing efforts for ingredients and finished products.
"From the beginning, Proper emphasized the need to be science backed, which aligns with my expertise and experience. There are a lot of products on the market that may use clinically studied ingredients, but they may not include the appropriate dose. Proper's ingredients were not only chosen for their clinical studies, but were included at the right dosage to target different aspects of sleep in the sleep cycle."
When you hear the term “healthy fats” in reference to foods such as olive oil + avocados, omega-3s are to thank. But do they help sleep?
Aug. 24, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
Discover exactly how melatonin + serotonin work together. Plus, how they're different.
Aug. 16, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
Lemon balm may have mild anxiety-reducing effects, which can help sleep. But most research has been conducted on small sample sizes and in combination formulas.
Jul. 18, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the synthesis of GABA, tryptophan, and serotonin, which all impact sleep—but not all clinical trials have yielded consistent results.
Jul. 12, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
Chamomile is rich in flavonoids, which contribute to its sleep-promoting effects—but not all clinical trials have yielded consistent results.
Jul. 05, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium, which is necessary for optimal bone health. But does it help sleep?
Jun. 13, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
Magnesium is an essential mineral our bodies need for optimal blood pressure, immunity, bone health, and more. But does it help sleep?
May. 30, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
Stats on sleep hygiene, sleep aids, the health implications of insufficient and poor quality sleep, factors that impact sleep, and more.
May. 23, 2022
By Kamiu Lee, Alice D. Hirschel & Allison Siebern, PhD, CBSM
Discover the benefits and trade-offs of each, as well as a solution that combines both.
Mar. 29, 2022
By Alice D. Hirschel
Honey is one of the most well-known household sweeteners and natural remedies. But does it actually help you sleep at night?
Mar. 08, 2022
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
When it comes to better sleep, melatonin and Benadryl are two of the most common household names—but they’re not made equal. We're diving into the science behind how they differ in safety and efficacy.
Feb. 22, 2022
By Alice D. Hirschel
Discover the benefits and trade-offs of these two natural sleep aids along with who they're best for.
Feb. 08, 2022
By Alice D. Hirschel
Tart cherries (and their juice) have been studied as natural sleep remedies shown to increase exogenous melatonin levels. Here's what you need to know.
Jan. 26, 2022
By Alice D. Hirschel
Label approval is not required to import or distribute a dietary supplement. And while the FDA still keeps a close eye on them, the responsibility is on the consumer to choose wisely.
Dec. 23, 2021
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
The science behind which wellness teas *actually* help you get a good night's sleep, and how.
Dec. 14, 2021
By Jacqueline Parisi & Alice D. Hirschel
When we tell you that Proper works, it’s in keeping with our science-forward ethos that we back it up with third-party data.
Dec. 07, 2021
By Kamiu Lee, Caci Massaro & Alice D. Hirschel
Cannabis research is very much so in development, but here’s what we know about the entourage effect to date.
Nov. 30, 2021
By Jacqueline Parisi, David Casarett, MD, MA & Alice D. Hirschel
A comprehensive list of sleep tips and FAQ to help you get a good night's rest.
Nov. 16, 2021
By Allison Siebern, PhD, CBSM & Alice D. Hirschel
In Proper's pilot clinical study, our Core formulation was studied for efficacy with respect to improved sleep quality.
Nov. 09, 2021
By Kamiu Lee & Alice D. Hirschel
Evidence-backed ingredients + dosages create benefits that build over time while supporting all 4 stages of sleep.
Oct. 26, 2021
By Kamiu Lee & Alice D. Hirschel
We've become so conditioned to expect fast results from sleep aids. Here's why that's a problem.
Sep. 21, 2021
By Nancy Ramamurthi & Alice D. Hirschel
Discover the benefits and trade-offs of each, as well as a solution that combines both.
Sep. 14, 2021
By Alice D. Hirschel, David Casarett, MD, MA & Allison Siebern, PhD, CBSM
Nobody has taken a holistic, science-backed approach to solving this problem, nor presented a personalized solution that recognizes just how different everyone’s biochemistry is.
Aug. 26, 2021
By Nancy Ramamurthi & Alice D. Hirschel
What it is, how it works to reduce stress, + the science behind how it can improve your sleep health.
Mar. 23, 2021
By Alice D. Hirschel
What it is, how it works, dosing, side effects, and more.
Mar. 18, 2021
By Alice D. Hirschel
There are many less-well-known foods that can mess with sleep. Luckily, there’s also a group of foods with impressive health benefits that can help.
Feb. 09, 2021
By Alice D. Hirschel & Allison Siebern, PhD, CBSM
The science behind eight natural, safe, and effective sleep supplement ingredients.
Feb. 04, 2021
By Alice D. Hirschel