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.
Phosphorus is an essential mineral your body needs for maintaining healthy bones, cell membranes and energy production, but overconsuming phosphorus can cause high serum levels of phosphate, also known as hyperphosphatemia, especially in people with kidney problems.
Read more →
Creatine supplements are used by athletes, bodybuilders and recreational exercisers to gain muscle mass and strength. Creatine is a found naturally in skeletal muscles, and is responsible for short, high-intensity activities. Taking creatine supplements increases the amount of stored creatine to improve performance.
Read more →
Pastry making was a very different proposition just a few centuries ago. Sugar was known, but rare until European planters built their great estates in the Caribbean and South America. Heavy cream for whipping came in the late 19th century, with milk-separating machines.
Read more →
Low potassium levels cause a variety of health problems such as leg cramps. Leg cramps occur when the muscles in your legs contract involuntarily. In fact, leg cramps are one of the first signs of low potassium levels.
Read more →
Potassium is an electrolyte essential in the function of muscles and nerves. Along with sodium, it maintains the body’s water and pH balances, sustaining blood pressure and other physiologic processes. Hypokalemia is the clinical name for low potassium levels and refers to blood levels lower than 3.6 to 5.2 mmol/L.
Read more →
Wound infections usually occur in individuals who have an incompetent immune system due to conditions such as diabetes, old age, HIV, malnutrition or prolonged hospitalization. The infections are characterized by redness, warmth and tenderness at the site of the wound, pus and fever.
Read more →
A few animal studies have demonstrated a link between consumption of apple cider vinegar and lower triglycerides. The results, though promising, do not mean you should rely on apple cider vinegar to improve your cardiovascular health.
Read more →
Phenol is a toxic and corrosive compound often used in DNA extractions -- not exactly the kind of thing you want to eat. A variety of organic compounds, however, contain the same chemical group and structural features that distinguish phenol, and many of these other compounds are beneficial for your health.
Read more →
Carnitine is a nutrient that your body uses to turn fat into energy, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Your liver and kidneys produce carnitine and your body stores it in your skeletal muscles and heart. L-carnitine is a kind of carnitine supplement that is generally considered safe.
Read more →
Your body cannot store vitamin C, and therefore, you need to get more every day to ensure that you are meeting the recommended daily allowance, or RDA. While this vitamin is considered nontoxic, taking high doses can cause stomach problems like diarrhea, vomiting and cramping, as well as other side effects.
Read more →
Some individuals with irritable bowel syndrome. or IBS, experience chronic constipation. This leads to pain, bloating and cramping symptoms that are rather unpleasant. The treatment of chronic constipation often relies on laxatives, whether they are over-the-counter or prescription remedies.
Read more →
Calcium bicarbonate is not a naturally occurring solid, but it does form in water when calcium, carbonate and bicarbonate ions are dissolved with carbon dioxide.
Read more →
Vitamin D deficiency is becoming a widespread health concern in America. According to a 2009 report published in the “Archives of Internal Medicine,” 77 percent of Americans are estimated to be vitamin D-deficient. Because of this, many Americans are turning to vitamin D supplements.
Read more →
Fruit may have a starring place in your daily diet because it is a healthy way to get many of the key vitamins and minerals you need for good health. One mineral present in fruit is potassium.
Read more →
Pelvic cramps that occur after taking a probiotic supplement that contains acidophilus may be a sign of a more serious medical condition. If this happens, discontinue using the supplement and call your doctor for an evaluation.
Read more →
Ayurvedic herbal treatments are usually safe and well-tolerated when prescribed by a qualified and knowledgeable Ayurvedic practitioner; however, even herbal medicines can cause side effects. Some Ayurvedic preparations may also have problems with toxicity and interactions with other drugs you might be taking.
Read more →
Job’s Tears, also known as adlay and coix, is a member of the grass family and popular in Asian cultures as a food source and for making jewelry. But the plant has also been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat dozens of conditions from arthritis to smallpox.
Read more →
A popular folk treatment in use for centuries, vinegar was discovered accidentally in the process of making wine. Apple cider vinegar is promoted for use as a natural treatment for numerous ailments, such as skin infections, gastrointestinal issues, bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
Read more →
Diseases that affect the arteries can lead to heart disease, stroke and blood clots. Vascular or blood vessel health is also important in preventing restricted blood flow to the brain and body that can cause dementia, poor memory and wound healing.
Read more →
Muscle twitches also are called spasms and occur when your muscles involuntarily contract. Twitches usually are short-lived but they can be painful. The most common areas that develop spasms are the hands, feet, toes and thumbs, according to Medline Plus.
Read more →