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.
Grapefruit seed extract is reputed to help with a host of issues including fungal yeast infections, bacterial infections and viruses. It also may reduce risk for cervical dysplasia, or abnormal cell growth on your cervix surface.
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Kidney stones are small, hard, sharp crystals that can lodge in the kidneys or the ureter, which is the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and are potentially very painful. The most commonly occurring stones are made of calcium combined with either phosphate or oxalate.
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Bupropion is a prescription antidepressant medication available as the brand Wellbutrin. In contrast, 5-hydroxytryptophan is an over-the-counter supplement used for a variety of health conditions, including for relieving depression. Known as 5-HTP, the supplement raises serotonin levels in the brain.
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A low-oxalate diet can help prevent kidney stones, which are caused by a buildup of minerals in your urine. Kidney stones, when they get large, are extremely painful and may cause urinary blockage. Meanwhile flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that promote general and heart health.
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Biotin, also referred to as vitamin B-7 or vitamin H, is a water-soluble vitamin that is important for optimal health, especially in children and adolescents.
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Flax seed oil contains an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid. Your body has to convert ALA into eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid -- EPA and DHA -- before it can be used. Flax seed oil may be helpful for reducing high cholesterol, minimizing inflammation and lowering your risk of heart disease.
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Both canned salmon and canned tuna can provide you with omega-3 fatty acids, the essential fatty acids that must come from your diet since your body can't manufacture them.
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Your gallbladder is a fairly small but important organ. It holds and empties bile, which is necessary during the digestion process because it breaks down fats. Produced in the liver, bile is comprised of water, bile salts, cholesterol and lecithin, a special kind of fat.
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Extracted from the nut of the coconut palm, coconut oil has been used for thousands of years in tropical cultures across the globe. Today, it serves not only as a cooking ingredient but as a medicinal tool, a moisturizer and a cosmetics base.
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In general, most fruits contain little iron -- a nutrient needed to make proteins in your muscles and blood. Bananas are no exception. However, they are loaded with plenty of other beneficial nutrients.
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A healthy person has a minimum of three bowel movements per week, according to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Fewer bowel movements may indicate you are constipated.
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Diarrhea is the result of your body eliminating stool before the large intestine can properly absorb water back into your body, which causes the stool to be runny and watery. Diarrhea is a symptom of several conditions that relate to a deficiency of vitamin B-12.
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Turkey is a rich source of protein, and many cuts of the meat are low in fat and calories. Thus, you may find turkey to be a beneficial addition to your diet, even if you're trying to lose weight.
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Bloating may occur due to a wide variety of reasons ranging from excessive food consumption to menstrual issues. It is helpful to determine first what is causing the bloating in order to figure out how to deal with it. Depending on why it is occurring, different vitamins, minerals or herbs may help to reduce bloat.
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Although it's not entirely clear what causes gallbladder problems, eating an unhealthy diet full of saturated fat and refined flour seems to raise your risk of gallstones and gallbladder inflammation. Fish oil, on the other hand, seems to protect against gallbladder problems, not cause them.
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Your parathyroid glands help to maintain normal blood calcium levels -- between 8.5 to 10.2 mg per deciliter of blood. The parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone when blood calcium levels dip below 8.
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Nitric oxide is an important substance for your cardiovascular and sexual health. Nitric oxide is a gas that relaxes and widens your blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow. Increasing production of nitric oxide protects against cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction.
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The optic nerve carries electrical impulses from your eye to your brain. Damage to the optic nerve can affect your ability to sight. Several types of calcium deposits can develop in the optic nerve. Calcium deposits may develop within protein deposits in the optic nerve known as drusen.
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Magnesium is an essential mineral abundant in the body that is vital to good health. Magnesium is required by the skeletal muscles, kidneys and heart for proper functioning. Approximately 50 percent of the magnesium within the human body is found in bone.
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Potassium and sodium ions act as power generators inside the cells of your body. Neurons are cells located throughout your nervous system. They communicate information to perform important tasks such as regulating your body temperature or flexing muscles.
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