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.
The B vitamins are a diverse group of nutrients that are commonly found together in foods. They are all water soluble, which means dietary excesses are usually easily eliminated in your urine. Most of the B vitamins are not stored well in your body, so you need to get them from your diet on a regular basis.
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The human heart is a complex electrical organ with its own switch-like pacemaker and “wiring.” Your heart rate is influenced by a variety of factors, including impulses from your nervous system and alterations in the levels of electrolytes, such as potassium and magnesium, in your heart’s cells.
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Iodine, or iodide, is a trace mineral found in ocean water, in ocean-dwelling plants and animals, and in soils adjacent to oceans. Iodine’s principal role in human metabolism is in the production of thyroid hormones.
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Iodine is a trace mineral that is essential for normal metabolic function. Many natural and unprocessed foods are low in iodine, but your body only needs a small amount each day. In his book, “Staying Healthy with Nutrition,” Dr. Elson Haas states there is no significant danger of iodine toxicity from a natural diet.
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Constant exposure to environmental toxins, pollutants and radiation may damage your tissues within your body. Even normal metabolic activities generate substances called reactive oxygen species, or ROS, which have the potential to cause further injury to your cells.
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5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is one of several byproducts arising from the metabolism of the amino acid L-tryptophan. L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning your body cannot synthesize it and it must be obtained from your food.
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Bovine pituitary extract, or BPE, is a filtered, water-based extract of fresh pituitary glands from cattle. As a source of growth factors and hormones, BPE is used in tissue culture research to support various cell lines, such as skin, breast, lung and prostate.
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L-arginine and L-lysine are amino acids that coexist in many protein-rich foods, such as tuna, watercress, nuts and soy. Your body uses amino acids to manufacture structural proteins, hormones, enzymes, antibodies and other important molecules.
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Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland at the base of your brain. Its production and release is enhanced when you are in darkness and suppressed when you are exposed to bright light.
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Amino acids are nitrogen-containing molecules that serve as the building blocks for proteins. Every protein possesses a unique sequence of amino acids that determines its structure and function. Your body contains hundreds of thousands of different proteins, each of which performs a specific task.
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Riboflavin, or vitamin B-2, is a member of the B complex family. Riboflavin is a water-soluble, vibrantly yellow vitamin, which accounts for the fluorescent yellow-green urine of people who take vitamin B complex supplements.
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Loxoprofen sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, marketed under various trade names in Brazil, Japan, Argentina and Mexico. It is not approved for use in the United States. Loxoprofen is in the same chemical family as ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen.
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Methotrexate is a strong medication used to treat a wide array of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and various cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and bone cancer. It is also employed in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, a condition in which the pregnancy is growing outside the womb.
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Fish oil supplements are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA. Because they confer a variety of health benefits, EPA and DHA have been the subjects of intense scientific scrutiny.
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Vitamin B-6 is found in three related forms in food -- pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine -- all of which are attached to a phosphate group when they get into your tissues. Nutritionist Dr. Elson Haas reports that pyridoxal phosphate is the most biologically active form of vitamin B-6.
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Amino acids are relatively small nitrogen-containing molecules that serve as building blocks for proteins and other organic compounds. Of the 22 amino acids in nature, 20 are present in your cells.
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An allergy is an abnormal immune response to environmental agents called allergens. Pollen, animal dander, dust mites and mold spores are common allergens. One of the most familiar forms of allergy is allergic rhinitis, or hay fever.
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“The New England Journal of Medicine” reports that every year 11 percent of American women seek medical care for a urinary tract infection, UTI. If you are female, your lifetime risk for developing a UTI is 60 percent.
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Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, has been called the “red vitamin” by patients who receive injections to treat B-12 deficiencies. In 2009, “Medical News Today” reported that 30 to 40 million B-12 injections are given each year in the U.S. alone, and side effects are relatively uncommon.
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Azithromycin is a “broad-spectrum” antibiotic that is similar to its much older cousin, erythromycin.
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