Laetrile, also known as B-17, isn’t a vitamin at all, but rather a chemically-modified form of a substance called amygdalin. Laetrile does not occur naturally in any foods, although amygdalin does. Laetrile, used as a popular alternative cancer treatment, has shown no benefit for this in clinical studies.
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Vitamin deficiency may not be the first thing that comes to mind if you develop a skin condition, but many vitamin deficiencies cause skin problems.
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If you’re hoping to get pregnant with a baby girl, you may have to work a little harder to achieve your goal. More boys than girls are born each year in the United States, although the difference is slight: around 1.04: 1 in favor to boys.
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Like most other vitamins, vitamin C, a water soluble vitamin also known as ascorbic acid, is not made in the body but most be obtained from foods or supplements. Vitamin C plays a number of important roles in the body, including enhancing the absorption of iron.
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The body needs the mineral potassium to regulate muscle contraction. The heart, being a muscle, often responds to changes in potassium levels by developing irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. Normally, potassium levels in the blood range from 3.5 to 5.0 mill-Equivalents per Liter.
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What Americans call Canadian bacon is actually called back bacon in Canada. Canadian bacon comes from the loin of the pig -- behind the shoulder -- while regular American bacon comes from the pig belly. Canadian bacon, ham and regular bacon are all cured meats.
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Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, are used in a number of Middle Eastern and African dishes. Like many beans, garbanzo beans contain healthy amounts of protein, as well as a number of other beneficial nutrients such as fiber.
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Habanero and cayenne peppers belong to a class of peppers called chili peppers. The habanero pepper is one of the hottest of the chili peppers, while the cayenne pepper has a milder flavor. Peppers are high in vitamin C, an antioxidant. Peppers also contain capsaicin, the active ingredient used for medicinal purposes.
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Calcium is essential for maintaining strong bones as well as for muscle and nerve functioning. Calcium levels in the blood do not normally fluctuate, but remain within a narrow range. Calcium is stored in the bones and teeth; when calcium levels in the blood fall, more calcium is removed from the bones.
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Robitussin cough syrup sold over-the-counter contains two drugs: dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant and guaifenesin, an exectorant. When taken in large amounts, both drugs can have side effects, although the side effects of dextromethorphan are more serious.
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Chocolate was once considered a guilty pleasure, but according to 2009 information from Harvard Medical School, there is now an awareness of the health benefits of dark chocolate -- as long as it is consumed in moderation.
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Soy sauce, a common condiment throughout Asia, is a fermented sauce with a salty taste which is aged for several months.
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Allergic reactions to alcohol most often occur as an allergy to ingredients found in certain types of alcohol or to substances that alcohol is mixed with in cocktails. An inability to metabolize alcohol can also cause flushing that resembles a rash, particularly in some ethnic groups.
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A turkey sandwich can be a very healthy meal -- or an unhealthy one depending on what you add to it. The bread you use, the condiments you choose and the additional ingredients you add all play a large part in determining the nutritional value of your turkey sandwich.
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Potassium is a mineral necessary for nerve and muscle functioning, particularly the muscles of the heart. Low levels of potassium, called hypokalemia, occur for many reasons. Normal blood levels of potassium range between 3.5 and 5.0 milliequivalents per liter, or mEq/L, according to Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine .
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Both fish and meat provide healthy nutrition, but both also come with health caveats. Meat and fish, along with poultry, are the best sources of protein and iron. Both have a place in a healthy diet, but cutting down on red meat and increasing fish may improve your health.
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Most obstetricians suggest prenatal vitamins for their pregnant patients to ensure that they get the optimal amounts of vitamins and minerals necessary for fetal growth.
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Everyone needs vitamin D, but the amounts needed and the possible benefits of taking higher amounts of vitamin D are hot debate topics in medicine. Two forms of vitamin D are available as supplements, vitamin D2, also called ergocalciferol and D3, called cholecalciferol.
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Fenugreek, an herbal supplement made from the seeds of the Trigonella foenum-graecum plant, has a number of traditional uses. Breastfeeding mothers use it to increase milk supply. Fenugreek has also been used as an alternative medicine for diabetes, inflammation and to induce childbirth.
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Apple cider vinegar, made from fermented apple juice, has been a folk cure sensation since 1958, when Vermont country doctor D.C. Jarvis wrote a book extolling its virtues for treating everything from arthritis to diabetes to weight gain.
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