Fat cells do more than just store fat. They control the levels of free fatty acids in the bloodstream, and they function as an endocrine organ. Endocrine organs produce hormones that regulate metabolic activities elsewhere in the body. For...
Brown fat has been observed to burn calories and use energy very efficiently, as opposed to the more abundant white fat that simply just stores energy. Originally it was thought that this calorie burning brown fat was only found in babies, but...
For the most part, exercise is beneficial for your health, including the health of your immune system. But if you have ended up sick after a particularly long or strenuous workout, you know that exercise can also negatively affect your health....
Maitake mushroom, known also as hen-of-the-woods, is a large mushroom that forms clusters and is often found growing on oak trees. Maitake is native to Japan and North America and is widely known for its purported medicinal properties,...
Cancer of the stomach is also called gastric cancer or gastric carcinoma. It tends to strike people from age 50 to 59, as well as workers in certain industries such as coal mining. Rehabilitation from stomach cancer surgery is intended to keep...
Probiotics are microorganisms found in your intestinal tract called "friendly bacteria" because they are helpful for overall health. Up to 70 percent of your immune system's activity lies within intestinal tissues, which is why it's so important...
You rely on your morning coffee to help you feel more alert and awake. Caffeine -- the active ingredient in your coffee -- has a number of effects on your body when it first works. The effects may be unpleasant when the caffeine breaks down in...
Exercise may improve your immune system by altering defense mechanisms and your mental states. Your immune system relies on substances in your body that detect threats and activate other immune cells that fight off invasion. Exercise may influence...
Psoriasis, rosacea and acne are chronic conditions of the skin, causing redness, irritation and inflammation. While these conditions have separate underlying causes, some of the same remedies may work to relieve the bothersome symptoms of all...
Some people experience intense migraines during warm weather. Warm weather ushers in a host of potential headache "triggers." If you understand your warm weather triggers, it can make it easier for you to avoid headaches in the first place....
At times it may feel as though you can't function in the morning without coffee. According to the National Coffee Association, more than 50 percent of adults consume coffee every day. Caffeine---the stimulant in coffee as well as tea and other...
You may have it, or you may not; cellulite can show prominently on some people, while others are fortunate enough to live without it. Typically visible around the thighs and buttocks, cellulite is perceived as unattractive due to its lumpy...
Aside from being popular in food for its spicy properties, cayenne is a natural remedy that may help control pain, reduce weight and regulate blood sugar. Though not popular in food, goldenseal is an herbal remedy for skin conditions and digestive...
Theophrastus Phillipus Auroleus Bombastus von Hohenheim, the father of toxicology, once said "the dose makes the poison." Dr. Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic echoes this old maxim by asserting "everything in moderation." This is true of coffee....
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures. Seizures happen when some or all of the nerve cells in the brain start firing at the same time, or signal abnormally. Normal nerve cell activity is disturbed, and this causes emotions, physical...
A healthy immune system is key to fighting off would-be invaders in the form of bacteria, viruses and even cancer. A lifestyle that includes nourishing food, exercise and adequate rest helps maintain a functioning immune system. The foods you...
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeast to increase the number of healthy bacteria in the gut. Healthy bacteria in the gut are needed to assist with digestion of food. However, the number of healthy or "friendly" bacteria can decline as a...
Sensitization to an allergen typically begins with the first exposure of the human body to the allergen. When the allergen gets into the human body, it causes the immune system to react. Specifically, the allergen stimulates a type of immune cell...
In cases of leukemia, white blood cells do not mature properly, yet they still reproduce. Healthy blood cells only reproduce if there is space for them. As the abnormal blood cells accumulate, the reproduction of the healthy cells is inhibited. ...
Colon cancer develops from adenomatous polyps -- growths projecting from the mucous membrane of the colon or the rectum. It is almost always curable if adenomatous polyps are detected and removed before they develop into cancer. However, in most...
Rooibos is a plant native to South Africa. It's used to make a type of tea that is also called red bush tea because of its dark red color. Rooibos contains numerous potent antioxidant and polyphenol compounds. Scientists have recently begun...
Disease-causing germs are present around you all the time. One main route of infection for these pathogens is your hands. Your hands are constantly touching the environment around you, picking up pathogens as they go, allowing these harmful...
Probiotics is the name given to a large group of beneficial bacteria that is available in dairy products and as a dietary supplement. Probiotics are mainly found in yogurt with live cultures and fermented milk. Some of the most recognizable names...
Essential oils are plant-derived complex compounds. These oils, which despite their name are not oily to the touch, are an amazing natural source for health and medical benefits. Essential oils have physical, mental and emotional affects. About 10...
The bladder is a distensible, hollow organ found in the pelvic region of the human body. Above it are two tube-like structures known as ureters that connect the bladder to each kidney. Below the bladder is a tube called the urethra that runs to...
Corticosteroids -- which are also referred to as steroids -- are a class of synthetic (man-made) medications that mimic the action of the naturally occurring hormone cortisol. This type of medication can be administered orally or topically or can...
Panax ginseng, more commonly referred to as red ginseng, is a plant with a long record of use for its medicinal properties. It contains ginsenosides, compounds that may help the body fight cancer and build the immune system. You should take this...
Ganoderma lucidum, commonly known as reishi mushroom, is an edible fungus that grows normally on logs of fallen trees or stumps of beech and oak. Ganoderma is primarily sold as food; however, it has also found its way into the preparation of...
Your immune system plays a key role in response to injury or infection, and helps to prevent and fight infectious disease. The multiple cell and tissue types that contribute to your immune system rely on a range of nutrients from your diet,...
