Derived from a fungus known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, brewer’s yeast is a key ingredient in the production of beer and ale. It's also taken as a nutritional supplement due to its rich supply of protein, B-complex vitamins and minerals, most notably chromium and selenium.
Read more →
Magnesium citrate is a compound of magnesium carbonate and citric acid that is marketed as a supplement to treat magnesium deficiency. Your body requires the mineral to function efficiently.
Read more →
The foods you eat trigger the metabolic process and require an expenditure of energy to digest, absorb and transport the food’s nutrients to your body’s cells. This overall process of stimulation is known as the thermic effect of food, or TEF.
Read more →
Methionine is a sulfur-based amino acid essential to optimal human health and function. The body cannot produce methionine and must get this vital substance through dietary means.
Read more →
Methionine is an essential amino acid, which means that your body must have it to function normally but cannot synthesize it on its own. Methionine is a sulfur-containing amino acid, closely related to cysteine, and both are building blocks of protein, as are most amino acids.
Read more →
Magnesium carbonate is a white, powdery compound that occurs naturally as dolomite and magnesite and is widely marketed as a health supplement. Its active ingredient is magnesium, a mineral that your body requires to function efficiently.
Read more →
Neem juice, extracted from the fruit and leaves of the neem plant, known scientifically as Azadirachta indica, has played a significant role in traditional Indian medicine for millennia.
Read more →
Found in a dizzying array of processed foods and beverages, artificial sweeteners simulate the sweet taste of sugar without all the calories found in table sugar and other calorie-laden sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup.
Read more →
Melanin is the natural substance that gives color or pigment to the skin, hair and iris of the eye. Cells called melanocytes, located just below the outer surface of the skin, produce melanin, which is in higher levels in people with darker skin.
Read more →
Made of gold-plated mesh, gold coffee filters are semipermanent filtration devices used in brewing coffee. Often included as standard with premium coffeemakers, gold filters do away with the hassle and untidiness of dealing with paper filters.
Read more →
Alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, is a protein found in all body tissues. The bones, liver and bile ducts usually contain higher concentrations of ALP than other body tissues. Normal ALP levels range from a low of 44 international units per liter to a high of 147 International Units per Liter, according to MedlinePlus.
Read more →
GABA, or gamma aminobutyric acid, is a naturally occurring amino acid that helps to facilitate normal operation of the central nervous system, the control center for a host of normal everyday functions. Doctors commonly prescribe GABA supplementation for patients who exhibit symptoms of deficiency.
Read more →
Spanish olives--more properly called Spanish-style olives--are olives that are picked young, briefly cured in lye and then fermented in a brine solution for up to 12 months before being bottled in a diluted brine.
Read more →
The body creates uric acid during the processing of chemical compounds called purines, which occur naturally in the body and are found in a wide array of foods as well. Although most uric acid dissolves in the blood and is excreted as urine, excessive levels of uric acid can cause health problems, most notably gout.
Read more →
From the French for “sour wine,” vinegar includes a diverse family of culinary products produced through the process of fermentation. In the Western world, the most widely consumed vinegars are derived from grapes and apples.
Read more →
Ginseng royal jelly combines the medicinal properties of Panax ginseng, also known as Chinese or Asian ginseng, and royal jelly, the nutrient-rich food source of the queen honeybee.
Read more →
Your sinuses secrete mucus designed to keep the air passageways clear and lubricated. However, blockages in the sinuses can lead to infection, causing considerable discomfort. Good overall health is key to sinus health, and there are a handful of vitamins that play a role in helping you avoid infection.
Read more →
Widely marketed as a weight-loss supplement, the fiber from konjac root, also known as glucomannan, appears to have some other medicinal properties of interest. These include the ability to inhibit absorption of cholesterol and glucose by the gastrointestinal system, as well as strong laxative effects.
Read more →
Herbalists prize oil of oregano, extracted from the leaves of Origanum vulgare, for its medicinal properties, including the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses. It differs from the oregano most often used as a culinary spice, which comes from a related plant called Origanum majoricum.
Read more →