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.
Fish oil is the primary source of two omega-3 fatty acids -- eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA -- which prevent inflammation and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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While a few of the cortisol-blocking ingredients may help you lose a few pounds — and some products also contain fat burners to boost the effect — don't expect huge results with supplements alone.
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If you’re embarrassed by acne, you’re not alone. About 80 to 95 percent of all teens have acne at some point in their lives, according to the University of Illinois. Adults experience acne breakouts too. Acne occurs when dead skin cells and bacteria block the normal flow of oil from glands in the skin.
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Beetroot supplements -- sometimes found in tablet form, sometimes as a juice -- contain nitrate, which improves your cardiovascular health and boosts athletic performance. Another active ingredient, the phytonutrient betaine, is an antioxidant that may help regulate blood sugar.
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Green Tea Fat Burner is a weight-loss supplement made by California-based company Applied Nutrition. Its two primary ingredients -- green tea and caffeine -- are fat burners, but their impact is hard to predict.
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Zinc keeps your immune system healthy, regulates the synthesis of protein, ensures normal growth and supports the senses of smell and taste. If you don’t get enough zinc through your diet, you can boost your intake with supplements such as zinc gluconate and chelated zinc.
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In its native tropical environment, the coconut, or Cocos nucifera, is a source of food and is used in traditional medicine to treat skin infections, upset stomach, wounds, bronchitis and coughs. Coconut oil may have anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing abilities.
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Of all the detox products available, green tea may be one of the most beneficial, but that doesn’t mean it literally detoxes your body. Instead, the active ingredients in green tea support your body’s natural ability to detox.
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Fucoidan -- an extract from brown seaweed -- is currently available in supplemental tablets. It causes few side effects, but it can interact with anticoagulant medications. If you take this type of prescription medication to prevent blood clots, don't take fucoidan unless it's under the supervision of your doctor.
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They sound similar and they share some of the same uses, but carnosine and carnitine have different compositions and functions. Carnosine and carnitine are available as supplements and carnitine is sometimes prescribed by physicians for some medical conditions.
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While there are several metabolism-boosting supplements on the market, only a few ingredients have the supporting research to back up their claims. Choose supplements that contain one or more evidence-backed ingredients, such as caffeine plus chlorogenic acid, EGCG or capsaicin.
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Weight gaining powders can really help when you’re trying to add pounds or build muscles, and you simply can’t consume enough calories and protein to get results. Just keep in mind that you won’t gain lean mass by using supplements alone.
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Inositol and choline affect your brain, but in different ways. They’re both important for building cell membranes and regulating cellular activity, but they also have unique roles.
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Melaleuca Inc. produces a multivitamin and mineral supplement that serves as the basis for a variety of nutritional products.
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If you need help gaining weight, the two primary types of supplements to consider are weight gainers for calories and protein powder to promote muscle synthesis.
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Vitamin K-2 shares many of the same vital roles as vitamin K-1. They both stop bleeding by making your blood clot, and both contribute to bone and cardiovascular health.
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Vitamin B-12 serves as a generic term to represent several different forms of the vitamin, one of which is Methyl B-12, an active form that supports metabolism. If you’re healthy and get your recommended daily intake of vitamin B-12, your methyl B-12 needs should be met.
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Chewing most vitamins won’t cause any harm, but it may affect the absorption of nutrients. Some types of vitamins, such as enteric-coated brands, should never be chewed. The biggest downside is likely to be the unpleasant taste experience of chomping on a vitamin that wasn’t meant to be chewable.
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The primary safety concern with cutting a vitamin comes from the challenge of using a knife to chop an unwieldy pill. You can cut vitamins to make them easier to swallow, as long as the directions or your doctor don't specifically say to take them whole.
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For the most part, you don’t need to worry about vitamins making you dizzy, but there are a few exceptions. High doses of vitamin A, niacin and choline can cause dizziness, as can a folate deficiency.
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