Psoriasis is a condition in which the immune system attacks skin cells, resulting in rapid skin cell proliferation. The rapidly dividing cells can cause large raised plaques to form on many areas of the body, including the hands.
Allicin is a sulfur compound found in foods such as garlic and onions. Its role in garlic is to prevent damage by pests and microorganisms. As a supplement, allicin exhibits antioxidant properties that have been associated with lowering blood...
Liver cancer remains one of the most virulent forms of the disease. According to the National Cancer Institute's cancer statistics review, of the 24,120 Americans diagnosed with liver cancer in 2010, 18,910 will die -- this equates to a mortality...
The Chinese medicinal herb turmeric, or curcumin, has been used for a long time as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases as well as digestive and liver problems. This bright yellow herb is loaded with a wide range of...
Conventional hormone replacement therapy became highly controversial following the Women's Health Initiative Study, which was halted, according to the April 2004 "Journal of the American Medical Association," when it was determined that the health...
The spleen used to be thought of as an organ that you could live with or without. But it turns out the spleen is an important organ for immune health. While there is no special diet designed for spleen health, eating certain foods may help you...
Curcumin is a biologically active component of turmeric, a spice widely used in southeast Asia. For centuries, turmeric has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a medical preparation to prevent and fight off diseases in humans. Today,...
Breast cancer develops from mutated breast cells. During cancer development, the mutant cells gain the ability to proliferate rapidly and indefinitely, invade neighboring tissues, evade cellular death and form tumors in distant organs. Although...
Most people experiencing hair loss have a genetic predisposition toward hair loss, inherited from one or both parents. While there are other causes, they account for a small fraction of hair-loss cases. In addition to heredity, causes include...
Bilberry is any of several species of shrubs in the genus Vaccinium, which produce edible berries valuable for culinary and medicinal purposes. The fruit of these plants have shown promise for inhibiting growth and proliferation of several breast...
Cancer develops when normal cells from any tissue of the body become mutated, allowing for uncontrolled cell growth and the development of tumors. One cancer treatment uses chemotherapy drugs that halt cell growth and trigger cell death, thus...
Cancer and the side effects of invasive treatments can take a toll on your body. A high-quality, nutritious diet can help promote healthy tissue and potentially contribute toward your recovery. Brazil nuts contain the essential mineral selenium,...
The skin is made up of a number of specialized cells, including melanocytes---the pigment-producing cells that provide the skin's natural color. Malignant melanoma is an advanced cancer that originates in melanocytes and then spreads to the lymph...
Breast cancer develops when cells of the breast become mutated and fail to respond to normal growth regulation from the body. The cells begin to divide uncontrollably, leading to the formation of a tumor. A number of genes control normal cell...
Nestled beneath the bladder, the double lobed prostate gland is often ignored until changes in physiology force it into the male consciousness. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate gland. As part of the male...
For those hoping to grow their hair longer, faster, biotin has served as a vitamin supplement used in the quest for maximized hair growth. Biotin is a B-complex vitamin that can be found in both supplement and food form. Biotin deficiencies are...
Foods that prevent disease are also known as functional foods. Because of their nutrition profile, functional foods may have beneficial effects on your overall health, including disease prevention. Nutrients, including antioxidants,...
Lung cancer accounts for more death among both men and women than any other type of cancer. Investigators at the University of Maryland Medical Center estimate that more than 160,000 people die from lung cancer per year in the United States. Grape...
Collagen provides the structural scaffolding for tissues, cells and organs. Without collagen and the vitamins and minerals enabling its synthesis, the human body would simply collapse on itself like a deflated balloon. Collagen production decline...
Hypoglycemia is the condition which occurs when your glucose (sugar) level is used up faster than the body can supply it. Hypoglycemic attacks can also occur when glucose is released too slowly, or too much insulin is released, causing a decrease...
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system, located below the bladder. The prostate contributes to hormone balances within the body and secretes prostate fluid, which makes up part of semen. Prostate cancer develops when prostate cells...
The prostate, a part of the male reproductive system, is made up of a number of cell types that work together to perform a range of actions that support male reproductive function. Prostate cancer develops when any of the cell types within the...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is derived from a few food sources, vitamin supplements and sunlight. Vitamin D comes in three forms, all which perform the same functions in the body. Vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol, is naturally...
Lung cancer claims more lives in the United States than the combination of colon, prostrate and breast cancers. Cigarette smoking is its largest single risk factor. Environmental pollutants, radon and asbestos can also be risk factors. Scientists...
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, accounting for more than 190,000 new diagnoses and more 40,000 deaths in 2009, according to the National Institute of Cancer. Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast...
Your liver has many important jobs such as changing food into energy and filtering toxins from your blood, which is why, when something goes wrong, it can be fatal. Serious liver diseases led to 112,000 hospitalizations and over 29,000 deaths in...
Your stomach plays an essential role in digestion. Specialized cells that make up your stomach lining secrete hydrochloric acid, which helps to chemically digest your food, while layers of muscle surrounding your stomach help to grind your food...
Flax seed oil is made from the hard, tiny seeds of the flax plant, which is the richest dietary source of lignans, offering protection against cancer in vitro. Cottage cheese is a milk product. It is being studied scientifically for use as an...
An aggressive cancer of the breast ducts, called invasive ductal carcinoma, is the most common form of breast cancer, accounting for four out of five breast cancer diagnoses, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The cancer usually develops as a...
