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.
The three nutrients that make up our diets are protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Typically, a healthy diet for the average person is composed of about 50 percent carbohydrate, 20 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.
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Made of calcium carbonate, Tums is a brand of antacid tablets available over the counter. The calcium carbonate helps ease the burning and discomfort associated with heartburn, and it can also increase your overall calcium intake.
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Iron is one of the most abundant minerals on earth, and we depend on it to live. Nonetheless, as much as 80 percent of the world's population may have an iron deficiency. Slow-release iron supplements are a viable solution to low blood iron, but iron supplements can also be dangerous.
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Proline, also known as L-proline, is an amino acid. It is non-essential because it can be synthesized by the body through the breakdown of L-glutamate, another amino acid. Protein is broken down into amino acids, or building blocks.
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Nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are best derived from food sources. However, you might find it difficult to eat a balanced diet on a regular basis, especially if you have special food considerations, like allergies, that make certain items off-limits.
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The B-complex vitamins include vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, B-7, B-9 and B-12. The respective names of these vitamins are thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folate or folic acid and cobalamin. B-complex vitamins derive from both food and plant sources.
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Adding bitter leaf to your healthy diet may reduce your risk of chronic diseases like breast cancer and type 2 diabetes, the University of Texas reports. Bitter leaf -- technically known as Vernonia amygdalina -- is a traditional ingredient in African cuisine.
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People are exposed to some amount of radiation each day. In addition to the widely feared nuclear radiation, there are many other forms, including thermal radiation, UV radiation and electromagnetic radiation, which come from x-rays, visible light or radio waves.
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Calcium gluconate and calcium carbonate are two commonly available forms of supplemental calcium. While calcium is best for you when obtained from food sources, you may need a supplement if you don’t get enough of this mineral on a daily basis.
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Diarrhea is the excessive loss of stool and fluids from the gastrointestinal tract. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, diarrhea means passing loose stools more than three times a day.
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Kre-Alkalyn is a buffered compound of creatine taken as a weightlifting supplement. Creatine is taken as a nutritional supplement to produce energy and increase muscle mass. This works alongside a comprehensive weightlifting program.
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The chemical names of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide are KOH and NaOH, respectively. Neither of these chemicals has any nutritional uses, as both would be extraordinarily dangerous to take internally.
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Rhubarb, although synonymous with fruit pie fillings, is actually a vegetable. In the garden it is recognized by its large, dark-green leaves and greenish-red stalks. However, rhubarb isn't the only plant in the garden that fits this description.
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Anxiety is a feeling of worry that occurs as a natural reaction to stress. If you experience anxiety for no particular reason or feel anxious or panicked from everyday events, you may have an anxiety disorder.
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Balsamic vinegar is a thick, strongly flavored type of vinegar that is produced from grapes. Balsamic vinegar is a low-fat alternative to many more processed salad dressings and is a source of several important nutrients; however, it is also high in sugar.
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Vitamin B12 is part of the B-complex of vitamins that are integral to many of the body’s functions. One of the most important roles of vitamin B12 is in the production of red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen throughout the body with the help of a protein called hemoglobin.
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Calcium plays an important role in regulating blood pressure and hormones and is the most common mineral in your body. Your bones are made primarily of calcium. Doctors most commonly prescribe calcium supplements to help prevent or slow the bone loss that occurs as people age.
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An iron deficiency can leave you feeling weak, lethargic or lacking in energy. However, feelings of low energy and tiredness can be caused by many different vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Visit your doctor if you have persistent periods of tiredness or low energy to eliminate any underlying conditions or diseases.
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Your body needs iodine in trace amounts for growth, development and to make thyroid hormones. Most people in the United States get sufficient iodine because iodine is added to table salt. You’re probably more likely to consume too much iodine, so never take an iodine supplement without speaking to your doctor first.
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Lecithin is a fatty substance found in plants and produced naturally in your body. You can consume lecithin from both plant and animal sources and from lecithin supplements. Your body requires lecithin to function properly, and as such, lecithin serves several important functions that contribute to your overall health.
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