Vitamins and supplements like melatonin and fish oil offer health benefits but can cause side effects if misused. Learn about the impact of saw palmetto on blood pressure and find the best multivitamins for young women and adults over 50.
Anybody with a sweet tooth knows how hard it can be to resist a sugar craving. While an occasional small dessert is acceptable, regular snacks on sugary foods should be avoided. Sugar contributes to dozens of health problems, most notably obesity and diabetes.
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Fish oil is a dietary supplement available in liquid, softgel and capsule form and contains a considerable amount of omega-3 fatty acids. According to MayoClinic.
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Glucomannan, a type of water-soluble fiber that comes mainly from the dried root of the konjac plant, is used by the food industry as a thickener. However, glucomannan supplements are also used for other purposes.
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Coconut oil supplementation has been gaining popularity. It is a tropical oil made from coconuts that is solid or nearly solid at room temperature. It is also a saturated fat that is very shelf-stable.
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Discover the natural benefits of honey, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Learn how these ingredients can improve your health, energy levels, and overall well-being.
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The ability of the body to use zinc and calcium is dependent upon their absorption. Most absorption of minerals occurs in the small intestine, explains the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Once absorbed, these two vital nutrients can carry out their roles in body function.
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During pregnancy, your body requires potassium to function at its best. An essential mineral, potassium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. It also plays a significant role in the transmission of nerve impulses, contraction of your muscles and release of energy from carbohydrates, fat and protein.
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Castor oil is a compound that comes from the castor bean. According to TourEgypt.net, the medicinal use of castor oil dates back to ancient Egypt. Applying oil to a scar will not promote new skin growth or remove the scar completely. Scars form to heal areas of the skin that have injury due to illness or accident.
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Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient responsible for converting food into energy. Vitamin B5 occurs naturally in foods, such as cauliflower, eggs and corn, and is also available in supplement form—either alone or as part of a “B complex.
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Medications that treat hypothyroidism contain thyroxine sodium, or L-thyroxine, as their active ingredient. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland cannot produce enough hormone. Thyroxine sodium replaces one of the hormones the thyroid does not produce in adequate amounts.
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You’ll find both niacin and niacinamide as supplements, and both are forms of vitamin B-3. These can be used interchangeably for some purposes, but some therapies require different forms of the vitamin.
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Wheatgrass and barley grass are green plants associated with numerous health benefits. Many of the proclaimed benefits lack scientific evidence. Proponents of both plants, however, believe that they contribute remarkable amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber and chlorophyll and can significantly enhance wellness.
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Vinegar has been used both internally and externally for thousands of years. Hippocrates was using vinegar to manage wounds in 420 B.C. Today vinegar is used for everything from cleaning windows to treating jellyfish stings. When added to a salad, vinegar provides several health benefits.
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Zinc is one of the essential nutrients for your body. However, you don't need very much of it, and you can easily get these amounts if you eat foods that contain zinc and take a multivitamin and mineral supplement. Care is needed when taking zinc supplements, since it is possible to overdose on zinc.
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Coffee is known for its positive health benefits but may interact with the mineral calcium. Calcium is vital for bone health. Moderate coffee intake will not harm younger adults but can put elderly women at a higher risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis.
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Minerals play a very important role in immune function, healing and the overall regulation of cellular metabolism. Trace minerals, combined with major minerals, make up four percent of the body, states sports coach Brian Mac. Liquid mineral formulas create a bio-available (easily absorbed) supplement to the body.
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A bit of sunshine has been credited with health benefits as varied as easing depression to providing necessary vitamins to the body. Although the sun has many benefits for people, health and otherwise, it does not give off vitamins.
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Ashwagandha has a long history of use in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine system of India, for a wide variety of conditions. It is considered an adaptogen, or a substance that strengthens the body against stress, promoting energy and overall wellness.
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Guarana is a plant of the Amazon that is found in parts of Venezuela and Brazil. The berries of this plant have a number of health benefits, including the ability to burn fat and increase energy, among others. Today’s common use of guarana is in energy drinks and sports nutrition drinks due to its energizing effects.
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Policosanol is a mixture of alcohols extracted from sugar cane wax, wheat germ, rice bran or beeswax. It is sold by many companies that advertise its lipid-lowering effects.
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