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.
Chromium is an essential mineral your body needs in small amounts. When combined with picolinic acid, it is referred to as chromium picolinate and is sold as a nutritional supplement. It is used to prevent chromium deficiency, which may develop as a result of poor diet, stress and aging.
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Before scent or other nonessential ingredients are added, base soap is nothing more than the sodium or potassium salt of a fatty acid. The sodium or potassium comes from sodium or potassium hydroxide, both of which are strong bases.
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Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, is a naturally occurring substance in the energy-producing centers of cell mitochondria.
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L-arginine and L-lysine are amino acids that coexist in many protein-rich foods, such as tuna, watercress, nuts and soy. Your body uses amino acids to manufacture structural proteins, hormones, enzymes, antibodies and other important molecules.
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The plant-like organism spirulina is purported to be useful as a detox agent and for treating many health conditions. A type of cyanobacteria, spirulina appears to be safe to take even in high doses, as long as you get it from a reputable supplier, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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Perspiration helps keep your body cool. People typically sweat under the arms, on the palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet. Sweat is the discharge of a salty fluid consisting primarily of water from the body's sweat glands. A person has 2 to 4 million sweat glands. The more you have, the more you sweat.
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Sodium polyacrylate is a chemical polymer that is widely used in a variety of consumer products for its ability to absorb several hundred times its mass in water.
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Tomato paste is reduction of tomatoes that is strained of all seeds and skin. The long hours of cooking thicken tomatoes into a paste by reducing excess moisture. Available in tubes or cans, tomato paste features concentrated tomato flavor.
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Hyperkalemia is a serious condition that is caused by excess amounts of the mineral potassium in the bloodstream. Left untreated, hyperkalemia can lead to permanent damage and even death from changes in heart rhythm.
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Iron deficiency anemia, B12 deficiency and acid reflux are medical conditions that can cause significant health issues. But there may be some overlap in the causes of these conditions.
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Your body uses magnesium to help turn food into energy, synthesize protein, regulate blood sugar levels, keep your immune system healthy, maintain a steady heart rate, keep your bones strong and your nerves and muscles functioning properly. Supplements can help you meet your recommended intake for magnesium.
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Calcium chloride, known chemically as CaCl2, is an inorganic salt. It is a colorless liquid or whitish granules, powder or flakes. It has a salty taste, but you cannot smell any odor. Calcium chloride is soluble in water and composed of calcium and chlorine.
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Sometimes knowing your ingredients means knowing the many names under which they masquerade. Potassium metabisulfite and sodium metabisulfite are often lumped together under the ambiguous name "sulfites."
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Platelets, or thrombocytes, are cells that are vital to your blood's ability to clot. While a low platelet count, or thrombocytopenia, can arise from a variety of conditions, a variety of vitamin supplements can help prevent and treat this condition.
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You need the B-complex vitamins, which include naicin, thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, pantothenic acid, folate and vitamins B-6 and B-12, for turning the food you eat into energy. These vitamins also play a role in normal growth and development and proper nerve, muscle and heart function.
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Chlorella is a single-celled freshwater alga that’s also known by names such as sun chlorella, freshwater seaweed or green algae. The whole plant is used in making medicines and supplements, such as tablets, liquid extracts and powder.
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Your body uses vitamins and minerals in almost every one of its natural processes. Without the proper intake of these valuable nutrients, your body struggles to fight off diseases and recover from injuries. The U.S.
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Garcinia cambogia, also known as Malabar tamarind, is a fruit-bearing tree native to South Asia. The rind of the fruit contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA) and has been used for centuries as a traditional remedy for a number of illnesses. More recently, HCA has been marketed as a weight-loss supplement.
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Understanding the chemistry of ordinary household ingredients can be confusing. However, being able to recognize the simple oxidizers, acids and bases allows you to use products more effectively and protect your family from them as needed.
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Alcohol consumption affects all your body’s systems. Because alcohol enters your bloodstream, it is carried to every organ and cell. Alcohol use causes imbalances of electrolytes, the electrically conductive ions in body fluids, which affects potassium levels.
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