Cord blood is stem cell rich blood collected from the umbilical cord after delivery. Because stem cells can grow into many different types of cells, including blood cells, banked cord blood can be used to treat some cancers, anemia and genetic...
Saving a baby's cord blood is an option every parent has but the decision has to be made before the baby is born. Banked blood can be saved for the future use by the family to treat health conditions, such as childhood cancers, or it can be...
Calcium is a mineral found in dairy products, sardines, leafy vegetables and fortified foods. It helps to keep your bones and teeth strong, conduct nerve impulses, contract your muscles and regulate the activity of enzymes. Calcium that your body...
Several types of iron supplements treat anemia and other forms of iron deficiency. Some supplements cause constipation. If the iron supplement you take causes constipation, talk to your doctor about switching to a non-constipating form. In...
Triglycerides are the most common form of fat in food and your body. Your body stores triglycerides as energy; it is in your blood and it forms cholesterol. Very low-density lipoprotein, is a form of cholesterol that carries triglycerides through...
The most common nutritional deficiency in the U.S. is iron, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Iron deficiency is one of the leading causes of anemia. The World Health Organization states that anemia affects more than 30...
Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels become abnormally high. Diabetes is typically caused by a problem with insulin, a hormone which the body needs to regulate insulin levels in the brain. There are two main types of diabetes and...
At first glance, the cardiovascular system appears to consist of only a single organ--the heart. This organ is certain a key player in the system; it’s responsible for pumping blood rich in nutrients and oxygen to the body cells, and its...
Cord blood is the blood found in the umbilical cord and placenta attached to newborn babies. Cord blood is rich in stem cells, the cells from which all other cells are made. Stem cells are used in the treatment of some cancers, immune diseases and...
High density lipoprotein, HDL, is the body's protective cholesterol. It carries fats dissolved in the blood to the liver for storage and disposal. The minimal HDL level recommended for women is 50mg per deciliter and for men 40mg per deciliter. A...
Cord blood is normally discarded after a baby is born. This blood is found inside the umbilical cord that connected mother and baby during pregnancy. Preserving the blood has many potential benefits for the family or for a recipient if the blood...
In most people without an underlying disease process, blood sugar spikes are temporary. The body works hard to regulate blood sugar and maintain it within parameters compatible with health. As a result, if behavior or circumstances--such as the...
Cord blood is the blood that remains inside a baby's umbilical cord after it's been cut. Cord blood, like bone marrow, is incredibly rich in stem cells, which are like the body's master cells that can transform into any type of cell in the human...
Cortisol is a hormone that is released in the body during times of stress, according to "Foundations of Nursing." Large amounts of cortisol can lead to elevated blood sugar and storage of fat on the body, according to "Contemporary Nutrition." A...
Your liver is the largest and heaviest organ in your body. It has a number of vital functions, including production of bile, maintaining fluid balance, storage of blood and metabolism of fat. Your body is exposed to harmful toxins on a daily basis...
Complex carbohydrates are an important component of a balanced diet. The exact amount of carbohydrate intake you need depends on your age, weight, height, sex and activity level. In general, complex carbohydrates are a better choice than simple...
Glycemic index, or GI, is a term that refers to the effect a food has on your blood sugar levels. Foods with a higher GI cause a quicker spike in blood sugar levels. Foods with a low GI digest have a more moderate effect on blood sugar levels. The...
Using the glycemic index of foods to lose weight is fairly easy. The glycemic index classifies carbohydrates by the rate at which they are absorbed, causing a surge in blood sugar and the hormone insulin. Insulin is the storage hormone that acts...
According to Gray Cook, founder of Functional Movement Systems in Danville, Virginia, strength is your ability to do work, while power is adding speed to strength. Both types of training increase muscle size, blood circulation, and storage for...
Glycerine is an odorless, colorless liquid that is classified as a carbohydrate and is used in a variety of pharmaceutical formulas. It is highly soluble in water and is both low in toxicity and tastes sweet. Glycerine's viscosity is high and is...
When carbohydrates are consumed, they are broken down into glucose, the body's main source of energy. As the glucose enters the bloodstream, it is regulated by the pancreas. When blood glucose levels are high, hormones move glucose from the blood...
Liver disease is not actually one disease but a collection of diseases, infections and conditions that affect the function and cells of the liver. There are a number of essential functions the liver is responsible for, including the breakdown and...
If you are looking for an alternative method of losing weight without the use of prescription medication, there are many herbal supplements available that you can choose from. Available at most local supermarkets and drug stores, these...
There are different forms of vitamin D, both in foods and supplements. By far the most absorbable and bio-available form for you is vitamin D3. This is the form that your skin makes, when you are in the sunlight. Vitamin D2 is another popular form...
If you are concerned about your blood sugar levels, you might have heard that baked potatoes are off the menu. But the effects of baked potatoes on blood sugar are more complex than that and depend on a variety of factors, including the specific...
The grapefruit is a citrus fruit that originated in the West Indies, and the majority of botanists agree that it developed from a hybrid of the sweet orange and pomelo. The commercial production of grapefruit is primarily concentrated in Florida....
When expectant parents decide to save their infant's cord blood, they need to make arrangements, in advance, with the hospital and the cord bank. The cord bank provides the parents with the necessary collection equipment and send a courier to...
Your liver and muscles contain glycogen, which is the storage form of glucose, or blood sugar, that your body uses for energy. Glucose-6-phosphatase is an enzyme that's needed for you to convert glycogen to glucose and release it into the blood....
Diabetes is a disease that causes high levels of blood sugar. It is controllable with diet, exercise, and medication. Hypoglycemia is a condition in which there are low levels of blood sugar, and it also is treatable with diet. Since the two...
