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.
Although you can follow different avenues to boost your energy levels, vitamins, consumed through food and supplements, may be among the safest. B-complex vitamins and vitamin D have proved useful in staving off fatigue and promoting healthy energy levels.
Read more →
Probiotics are living microorganisms such as the Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria species of bacteria that may have beneficial effects on human health. Higher dose probiotic preparations typically have 50 billion to 1 trillion living probiotic organisms per serving or per dose.
Read more →
As a result of smoking, the body not only absorbs toxins, but loses nutrients. Because smoking interferes with absorption of vital vitamins and minerals, deficiencies can develop. Vitamin deficiencies create or exacerbate some of the major health problems that smokers risk.
Read more →
Kelp, a brown seaweed available in capsule, liquid and tablet form, has a variety of purported medicinal benefits. It contains large amounts of iodine as well as essential vitamins and nutrients. According to the book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," kelp has a very high level of trace minerals.
Read more →
Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is a fatty acid found in dairy and meat products in small amounts, and is used for weight loss, muscle growth and overall health. Taking a CLA supplement is a method of achieving your recommended dose of this fatty acid.
Read more →
Your body can make the amino acid L-glutamine, often simply called glutamine, and you also get it from many of the protein-rich foods in your diet. Healthy people don't typically need glutamine supplements, but some people take them in hope of improving their weight-loss results.
Read more →
Also called lysine or lysine hydrochloride, L-lysine is an amino acid that your body needs and you can get from eating certain foods. You can also get L-lysine from taking a supplement.
Read more →
Fish oils and supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids that your body cannot make. Mayo Clinic states that the two most important fatty acids in fish oil—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—improve cardiovascular function, reduce triglycerides and decrease the risk of strokes.
Read more →
Many people have claimed positive outcomes when using melatonin for inducing sleep. Melatonin is a substance that your brain's pineal gland secretes, producing the effect of sleepiness. It has been used as a supplement for those who work irregular hours and by some recovering from jet lag.
Read more →
Fish oil supplementation has side effects, but it doesn't harm the urinary tract. In fact, it can help with problems like kidney stones and bladder cancer.
Read more →
In this day and age, we are prone to feeling continuous stress. We worry about our jobs and children; we stress over finances and relationships. Eventually, stress can wreck havoc on our health, causing illnesses, such as heart problems, excess weight, stomach and digestive problems as well as depression and anxiety.
Read more →
Vegans are strict vegetarians who abstain from consumption of animal products and byproducts. If you are a vegan, beware of the use of animal byproducts in multivitamins. Gelatin is a common multivitamin stabilizer and is produced from the boiled bones and organs of animals like cows.
Read more →
Zinc has key roles in producing energy in your body, cell metabolism, building DNA and RNA and regulating your immune system. You also need it for smelling, tasting and wound healing.
Read more →
Natural Calm is a supplement that contains ionic magnesium in an easily dissolvable powder. Magnesium is an important mineral, particularly for your heart, muscles and kidneys. Dietary deficiencies of magnesium are fairly common, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website.
Read more →
Oxygen supplements can be life saving or a marketing scam. When provided in the form of supplementary oxygen gas, as in an emergency medical situation, oxygen supplementation is vital for survival.
Read more →
You may already know that vitamin E is an important nutrient and antioxidant. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin E is found naturally in many foods, such as nuts and sunflower seeds. It is available as a dietary supplement in the form of oil capsules.
Read more →
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to get enough vitamins is from eating a balanced diet with a variety of foods. However, a woman who is 50 years old may need to pay special attention to certain vitamins to be sure she gets enough for good health.
Read more →
Papaya is a type of fruit that grows naturally in Mexico and throughout several tropical and sub-tropical areas in the Western hemisphere. Its active enzyme, papain, is used in soap to exoliate dead skin cells .
Read more →
At age 20, you’re right on the cusp of finishing up your growth spurt and settling into your fully developed adult body. You still need vitamins that support growth and strong bones, as well as ones that can support a healthy pregnancy in the future.
Read more →
Selenium yeast is a form of supplemental selenium, which is also referred to as organic selenium. While it’s safe for most people, selenium becomes toxic if the amount you consume exceeds the maximum safe intake.
Read more →