Side Effects of Phenylalanine and Phenylketonurics

Phenylalanine -- an amino acid and one of the building blocks of protein -- has no side effects as a component of food in healthy individuals. However, in those with a disease called phenylketonuria, or PKU, phenylalanine causes a variety of side effects.

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Hazards of Taking Too Many Enzymes

There are some alternative health practitioners and popular nutrition sources that suggest taking enzymes can help relieve a variety of symptoms and help prevent or treat a number of disease processes. In fact, however, true enzyme deficiencies are rare, and most enzyme supplements neither help nor hurt you.

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Lactose Intolerance & Probiotics

Probiotics are bacterial species that don't cause infection in humans, but instead provide some sort of benefit to the digestive tract or other organ systems.

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Dehydration Synthesis in Lipids

Dehydration synthesis is the process of making a larger molecule from smaller building blocks by removing two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom -- the chemical components of water.

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What Does the Body Use Nucleic Acids for?

There are many different roles that nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, play in the human body and in other living organisms. Scientists continue to identify new and different functions of nucleic acids on a regular basis.

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Possible Side Effects of Dextrose

Dextrose is a common name for the ubiquitous sugar molecule, glucose. In nature, dextrose is exceedingly common. Starch, as in rice and potatoes, is made up of long chains of dextrose, while table sugar contains dextrose chemically bonded to fructose, another sugar molecule.

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How Cell Organelles Work Together

Cells are the simplest units of life. In some organisms, cells function as the complete living creature--bacteria, for instance, consist of only a single cell. In other organisms, many cells working together comprise the organism.

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Sodium Nitrate Consumption During Pregnancy

You probably know you need to avoid certain foods during pregnancy. Alcohol is off limits, and most obstetricians recommend that you limit caffeine. Because of bacterial contamination, it's important to avoid undercooked or raw meats.

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Pyruvate vs. Pyruvic Acid

Sometimes, chemical compounds can have wildly different structures and properties despite similar names.

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Digestive Enzymes & Pregnancy

Digestive upset, constipation, acid reflux and other gastrointestinal complaints are common during pregnancy. If you're pregnant and experience any of these symptoms, you might find yourself wondering if supplemental digestive enzymes could help alleviate your discomfort.

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Stomach Pains After Eating During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with a host of discomforts--women often have morning sickness starting a few weeks after conception, and continue with back pain, heartburn, uterine pain, and a variety of other symptoms.

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Can Ginger Tea Start Your Period?

Ginger tea is a common herbal treatment for digestive disorders. It is also used for pregnancy-related nausea and painful menstrual periods, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. There is no scientific evidence to suggest, however, that it can help to start your period.

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How to Alternate Advil and Tylenol for a Child's Fever

Fevers, while not typically dangerous in their own right, can make children uncomfortable. If you have a child with a fever -- whether it's because of an illness or is a normal response to vaccination -- you may wish to give antipyretic, or fever-reducing, medication.

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Fish Oil Capsules

What Vitamins Clear Away Plaque in the Arteries?

The typical American diet, which is high in animal-based and processed fats, contributes to a buildup of plaque in the arteries. If you have -- or suspect you have -- buildup of arterial plaque, you should take steps to try to clear it away. Certain vitamins may help a bit, but other measures are more effective.

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How Long Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins Before Getting Pregnant?

Most women who plan to get pregnant want to do everything they can to ensure that they're as healthy as possible prior to conceiving. This helps to provide for a healthy pregnancy. Neural tube defects, the second most common group of debilitating birth defects, can be reduced with adequate folic acid intake.

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Why Do Doctors Monitor the Concentration of LDL & HDL?

Most annual checkups at a physician’s office include blood work, complete with cholesterol measurements. While labs do measure total cholesterol, they also break the total cholesterol count into several subcategories, two of which are called HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

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Student holding a molecular model

What Are Nucleic Acids Made Of?

Nucleic acids are large biomolecules, and include both deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA carries your cells' genetic information. RNA uses this genetic information, and helps the cells make proteins.

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Backache

A Pulled Back Muscle During Pregnancy

The muscles of the back are surprisingly strong but are meant largely to engage in continuous, low-intensity efforts. Requiring them to move quickly or contract strongly, as they must to lift a very heavy weight, can pull them, leading to painful aching and spasms.

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