Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Saw palmetto is a palm-like plant indigenous to the southeastern United States from South Carolina to Florida. Also known as shrub palmetto, this small, bushy tree produces purplish-black berries that are used in herbal medicine to treat enlarged prostate in men triggered by low testosterone.
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Despite the name, the strawberry is not a true berry but a pseudocarp, which means some of the fruit’s flesh sprouted from nearby accessory tissue of the plant instead of an ovary. Nevertheless, the fruit provides sustenance for a variety of wildlife and a good reason for people to make jam.
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Noni seed oil is extracted from the seed of a small evergreen tree that grows in the tropical areas of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and the Polynesian islands. The plant has a long history of use as a dye in these regions.
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Papaya and pineapple enzymes are both classified as proteolytic enzymes, meaning that they digest proteins. Papaya enzymes are extracted from the leaves and fruit of the papaya plant and are collectively known as papain.
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Black walnut has a long history of use in agriculture, medicine and commercial industry. Native Americans used the hulls to make dyes. Today, black walnut hull extracts are used in natural hair color formulas and self-tanning lotions.
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Bitter melon is a tropical vine found extensively throughout the Caribbean, Africa, China, India and Southeast Asia. The leaves are dried and encapsulated, or steeped in hot water to prepare a tea, which is a traditional treatment for malaria, hypertension, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes.
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Chia seeds are the fruit of Salvia hispanica, a plant native to Central and South America. In addition to serving as food and medicine, the ancient Aztecs valued the seeds so much that they were used as currency. Today, the seeds are reputed to promote weight loss and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
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Mulberry has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. In recent years, extracts of the leaf and roots have gained attention for their potential in regulating carbohydrate and glucose metabolism. Some components of the plant may even have anti-cancer benefits.
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Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is a by-product of testosterone manufactured in the adrenal glands, hair follicles, testicles and prostate gland. Like testosterone, DHT is an androgen hormone, which means it plays a role in the development of male and female characteristics.
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Acetyl L-carnitine HCL is an amino acid naturally manufactured in the body through the conversion of L-carnitine and used by cells to produce fuel for energy. It is also involved in a variety of processes that regulate muscle movement and heart and brain function.
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Jiaogulan is a climbing vine native to China, Japan and Korea. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, it is related to the watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin and other melons and gourds. There are several health benefits attributed to drinking jiaogulan tea, with no documented toxicity or drug interactions.
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Black seed oil refers to the volatile oil of Nigella sativa, a flowering plant native to southwestern Asia and cultivated elsewhere. Black seed oil has a long history of use in medicine dating to ancient Egypt. Traditionally, the oil is used to treat respiratory and inflammatory disorders.
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Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by dryness and scaly patches of skin. It occurs most frequently in infants, although many people tend to “grow out of it” by their early twenties. Eczema also runs in families, indicating that genetics may play a role.
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