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.
Taking fish oil supplements will help maintain a healthy heart by keeping cholesterol levels low in your body, MayoClinic.com reports. Fish oil, classified as an omega-3-acid ethyl ester, contains both docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, key elements in lowering triglycerides, part of your cholesterol.
Read more →
Agnus castus, also known as vitex or chasteberry, has been used for thousands of years for a variety of female issues such as fibrocystic breasts, premenstrual syndrome and infertility. Women might use it for a specific purpose or to promote general hormonal balance.
Read more →
Ashwagandha, a popular herb in Ayurvedic medicine, has a long history of use as an adaptogen -- a substance believed to improve the body’s defenses against physical and mental stress.
Read more →
Glucosamine, chondroitin and methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, are supplements available together and separately for treating osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, occurs when the cartilage that cushions joints degenerates.
Read more →
Potassium is an essential mineral, meaning that it is necessary for you to consume adequate amounts of it to sustain life. Unlike some biochemical compounds, your body cannot synthesize potassium; you must obtain it through your diet.
Read more →
Athletes looking for increased muscle size and a boost in exercise performance often turn to dietary supplements like L-arginine.
Read more →
A child dies of malnutrition every six seconds, according to the World Food Program USA. Although most of these deaths occur in developing countries, the truth is that malnutrition occurs within the United States as well. Malnutrition, especially in developed countries, doesn’t always equate to starvation.
Read more →
Jintropin is a supplement containing human growth hormone that many athletes take in hopes of enhancing strength, agility and exercise performance. Other people take Jintropin believing it can turn back the clock and forestall the aging process.
Read more →
Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is an antioxidant and needed nutrient for your body to perform its daily functions. Because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, your body does not store it or make it, so you must take in enough each day to meet your nutritional needs.
Read more →
Vitamin K is an essential micronutrient found in certain foods and nutritional supplements. Best known for its critical role in blood platelet function, this compound owes its common name to the German term, “Koagulationsvitamin.” Two basic forms of vitamin K -- K1 and K2 -- are used in medicine and human nutrition.
Read more →
When your skin is directly exposed to sunlight, a chemical reaction inside your body leads to the formation of vitamin D, an important nutrient that helps you absorb calcium and form strong bones and teeth.
Read more →
Valine and glutamic acid are amino acids with very different structures and properties. They are both building blocks of protein, and sometimes mutations in your DNA can cause substitution of one for the other. This can potentially lead to serious disorders, the most well-known of which is called sickle cell anemia.
Read more →
Supplementation has been used for years to treat a variety of health conditions and to improve overall health. Arginine or L-arginine, ginkgo biloba, and ginseng are commonly used to increase energy and strength, improve cognitive functioning and enhance overall health.
Read more →
Calcium is a nutrient needed for strong bones, but your body cannot absorb it properly without the help of vitamin D. The combination of calcium and vitamin D helps strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis.
Read more →
If you browsed the shelves of your local health food store or searched the Internet for a dietary supplement that may help prevent or treat heart disease, you may have discovered "CoQ10." CoEnzymeQ10 or Ubiquinol is a substance that is naturally produced in your body and vital to the health of your cells.
Read more →
The first anti-tuberculosis drugs were developed 70 years ago and despite a significant decline of numbers of infected people, tuberculosis, a multi-organ infectious disease, still affects 2 billion people worldwide. In 2009, it caused the death of 1.7 million people.
Read more →
Vitamin D can be found in foods such as fatty fish, eggs and fortified milk and orange juice. Most of the vitamin D that people get is manufactured in the skin after exposure to the sun. Due to concerns about skin cancer, your child may not spend very much time in the sun.
Read more →
Dietary supplements are big business in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that approximately 53 percent of the adult population takes at least one nutritional supplement. Calcium is the leading mineral supplement taken by Americans.
Read more →
Iron, an essential mineral, forms an integral part of enzymes and proteins necessary for vibrant health. The majority of your body’s iron is found in red blood cells, which transport oxygen. The recommended daily intake of iron for men is 8 milligrams and for women is 18 milligrams. According to the U.S.
Read more →
Potassium is a mineral essential for the proper function of all the cells, tissues, and organs in your body. Potassium gluconate is one of several types of potassium supplements available to help prevent or treat low potassium levels, a condition known as hypokalemia.
Read more →